The Security Council began its meeting this afternoon to discuss “The Mideast Problem, Including the Palestinian Question,” at the request of India, on behalf of the nonaligned nations at the UN. The request was made a few weeks ago, but the meeting was postponed until now because the Council was busy with more urgent matters, including the Israeli air raid on PLO bases in Tunisia last week.
Diplomatic sources said they expect that the hijacking of the Italian liner Achille Lauro will be discussed at today’s session. Ambassador Binyamin Netanyahu of Israel is likely to bring up the hijacking when he addresses the Council.
Meanwhile, a UN spokesman said today that there is no confirmation of recent press reports that PLO chief Yasir Arafat would address the General Assembly later this month. Diplomatic sources at the UN said that Arafat has not yet requested a visa from the U.S. so he could come to New York. The sources added, however, that it is “almost certain” that the PLO leader will address the Assembly.
INVITATION TO ARAFAT SOUGHT
In a late development this afternoon, six Arab and nonaligned nations circulated a draft resolution in the Assembly calling for an invitation to Arafat to address the world body during its 40th anniversary session this month. The resolution, sponsored by India, Iraq, Kuwait, Nigeria, Senegal and Yemen, is expected to come up for a vote in the next few days and, according to sources here, is virtually certain to be adopted.
The PLO has observer status at the UN as a nongovernmental organization. Arafat addressed the General Assembly in November, 1974.
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