SECRETARY-GENERAL VISITS OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, 23 - 24 MARCH

Press Release
SG/T/2124

SECRETARY-GENERAL VISITS OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, 23 - 24 MARCH

The Secretary-General left Damascus for the Gaza Strip in the morning of Monday, 23 March. He touched down first at Al Arish, Egypt, and proceeded from there by car across the border into Gaza. He was greeted on arrival by President Yasser Arafat and other Palestinian officials, with whom he met for almost an hour. They discussed the Middle East peace process, the conditions of the Palestinian people, and United Nations development efforts in the region.

After a joint press conference with President Arafat, the Secretary- General attended a luncheon in his honour, hosted by President Arafat. He gave an address before some members of the Palestinian National Council. (See Press Release SG/SM/6501.) He then visited the headquarters of the Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories, and from there went to the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Later in the day, he met with relatives of Palestinians detained in Israeli jails. He also attended a reception which was hosted by the Palestinian Authority.

The Secretary-General concluded his visit to Gaza on Tuesday morning with a breakfast meeting with senior Palestinian officials, followed by a visit to the Jabaliya refugee camp, which is administered by UNRWA.

He and his party then travelled to Israel by road.

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