Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and visiting Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat reaffirmed Thursday that they will cooperate to ensure peace in the Middle East.
During talks Thursday evening at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, Obuchi praised Arafat's recent efforts to push the peace process forward, which led to a major agreement with Israel last month, a Foreign Ministry official said.
Under the agreement, Israel and Palestinian representatives are set to resume talks over the status of Jerusalem and implementation of the provisions of the Wye River accord, a breakthrough land-for-peace deal on the West Bank reached in October 1998.