Message from Palestine Authority President to the Maltese President

President Guido de Marco has been officially invited by the leader of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat to attend the Millennium festivities in Bethlehem on 24 and 25 December.

The invitation was delivered this morning by the Palestinian Ambassador to Malta, Awad S. Yakhlef during a meeting with the President at the Palace, Valletta.

Ambassador Yakhlef delivered two messages from Mr Arafat to Prof. de Marco. The first was a letter giving details of the latest developments in the political issues in the region. In his letter, Mr Arafat thanked Prof. de Marco for his "everlasting effort" for the "cause of peace" in the Middle East.

In a second letter, President Arafat invited Prof. de Marco, who is the Honorary President of the Bethlehem 2000 Committee, to join other world leaders in the festivities marking the 2,000^thanniversary of the Birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem on 24 and 25 December.

Palestine is gearing up to celebrate the millennium in Bethlehem on a grand scale and around two million visitors are expected. The Bethlehem 2000 project, headed by Yasser Arafat, includes cultural heritage, attractions, events and tourism development. The calendar of events, which extends from December 1999 to Easter 2001, has been divided into 13 themes designed to reflect a cross-section of Bethlehem's culture, tradition and history.

Describing Prof. de Marco as his "friend", Mr Arafat expressed his wish that the President's agenda would permit him to attend these celebrations.

"The Palestinian people are happy and proud to have President de Marco because for them he represents all Maltese people and the long friendship between Palestine and Malta," Ambassador Yakhlef said.

Thanking Mr Yakhlef, Prof. de Marco reiterated Malta's strong belief in the future of the Middle East and the State of Palestine.

"Malta believes in the right of peoples to have their own nation and there can be no peace in the Mediterranean region if there are peoples who are deprived of their sovereignty," Prof. de Marco said.

He stressed it must be ensured that the "peace of the brave signed by Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres becomes a reality in full observance of United Nations resolutions."