Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz received at Al-Salaam Palace in Jeddah yesterday Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and his accompanying delegation.  The audience was attended by advisor to the royal court Prince Abdulaziz Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, head of the royal court Muhammad Al-Noweiser, and Minister of State Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Manei.  During the meeting, bilateral relations were discussed, and the latest developments at the Arab, Islamic and international levels, including developments in the Middle East peace process.  President Arafat and his accompanying delegation later met with Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, and with Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector-General.

Following the meeting, Prince Sultan told reporters that President Arafat's optimism regarding the peace process is comforting, adding that there was no concern that the U.S. administration headed by President Bill Clinton would withdraw and give up on its commitment to peace.  In response to a question regarding the proposed London meeting and the possibility of giving guarantees for the Palestinians, he expressed the belief that any meeting is open and that guarantees come after signing an agreement.

President Arafat left the Kingdom today after a visit to the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah.

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