The representative of the Arab League in Rome announced here today at a press conference that Palestine Liberation Organization chief Yasir Arafat will “almost certainly” come to Rome in the beginning of 1980.
Chesili Klibi, the Arab League’s secretary general, is expected on an official visit to Italy in January, at which time the League plans to take a “series of initiatives” to persuade the Italian government to extend official recognition of the PLO and thereby “paving the way ” for other European Economic Community nations to do the same, it was announced at the press conference.
“There are no longer any obstacles to Arafat’s visit,” the League representative said, “with the exception of certain internal resistances within the Italian government and some problems of coordination between Italy and the European community. “The left wing of the majority Christian Democratic Party, and the Socialist and Communist parties are among the major supporters of Arafat’s visit. Their standing on this issue has been enhanced since they organized the PLO international conference in Rome last September.
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