Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan Sunday called for immediate
withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian leader Yasser
Arafat's residence and for Arafat's personal safety to be ensured.
Tang asked Israel to do so in order to serve the overall
requirement of security and stability in the Middle East as well as
Israel's own long-term interest.
Tang made the remarks in a phone conversation with Israeli Deputy
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres.
Tang said that the abrupt escalation of the conflict between Israel
and Palestine has caused huge casualties and property losses, and
Arafat's personal safety was severely endangered.
The Chinese government is deeply concerned about the sudden
deterioration in the Middle East situation, Tang said.
Arafat, as leader of the Palestinian people and one of the
initiators of peace talks between Israel and Palestine, has made
great efforts to push forward the Middle East peace process, Tang
said, stressing that disastrous consequences would happen to the
Middle East region if unexpected incidents took place to Arafat's
safety.
Tang expressed his hope that Israel will implement Resolution 1402
of the United Nations Security Council unconditionally, withdraw
its troops completely from Palestinian areas and solve the problems
through peaceful means.
(Xinhua News
Agency April 1, 2002)