Palestinian Authority chairman Mr Yasser Arafat is due to arrive in Athens this afternoon for talks with Greek leaders on the stalled Middle East peace process, Greek and Palestinian officials said.
Mr Arafat, who was in Austria yesterday, is expected to continue to press for a new European Union initiative on peace in the Middle East.
He it to meet with Greek President Mr Costis Stephanopoulos and with Prime Minister Mr Costas Simitis.
A Palestinian envoy in Athens said Greece has "a very strong friendship" with Mr Arafat and it was natural that the Palestinian leader should update the Greek authorities on developments in the Middle East.
Former Greek Prime Minister Mr Andreas Papandreou was the first leader of an EU country to officially host Mr Arafat in the early 1980s.
AFP