Joint Communiqué
on the visit of H.E Mr. Nabil Shaath, Minister of Planning and International
Cooperation of PNA to the Republic of Poland
Warsaw, March 7, 2000

Within the framework of enhancing and strengthening the ties of friendship and cooperation between the Republic of Poland and the PLO for the benefit of the Palestinian National Authority. A two-day official visit of H.E Dr. Nabil Shaath , Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of the Palestinian National Authority at the invitation of H.E Prof. Bronislaw Geremek, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland was successfully concluded.

Dr. Shaath conducted positive and constructive meeting with:
H.E Prof. Bronislaw Geremek, Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E Mr.Jan bz Steinhoff, Minister of Economy, the deputy speakers of the Sejm, Mr. Ln Krol and of the Senate, Mr. Donald Tusk, Deputy Minister of Finance Mr.Krzysztof Ners, Deputy Minister of Transport and Maritime Economy Mr. Gwidon Wojoik.

Comprehensive talks took place on issues of mutual interest such as:
cooperation in the fields of tourism, transport, civil aviation, economic cooperation, businessmen council, export-import arrangements, cultural and scientific research cooperation, cooperation in the area of hi-tech industry, cooperation on legal and legislative matters, and a framework for political dialogue. A mechanism to be established at experts level to explore ways and means of enhancing cooperation between the two parties.

A joint working group from both sides is invited to meet in July to final the terms of that mechanism.

The Palestinian delegation expressed its appreciation to the support given by the Government of Poland to Palestine in capacity building by granting scholarships to Palestinian students to study in Poland as well as its gratitude for accreditation of H.E Mr. Hafez Al Nimer as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Palestine to the Republic of Poland.

The Palestinian side extended an invitation to the Republic of Poland on participate in the regular meetings of the Local Aid Cooperation Committee (LACC) and the Sectorial Working Group (SWG) as observer. The delegation of Poland confirmed the invitation of President Arafat to visit Poland, and Minister Shaath accepted the invitation on behalf of H.E President Arafat. The two parties welcomed the Sejm invitation to the Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council next month as a step to enhance cooperation between the two legislative bodies.

The delegation of Poland reiterated its support to the rights of the Palestinian people for self-determination and to a just, lasting had comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The delegation of Poland reiterated its support to the Middle East peace process and expressed as awareness of the difficulties the peace process is facing at the moment and stressed the necessity of implementation of the reached agreements in order to protect Peace.