European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana is talking with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at his Israeli-beseiged compound in Ramallah. 

Israeli officials approved the meeting after denying Mr. Solana access to the compound earlier this month. The EU official is trying to help resolve the 19-month-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

After meeting with Mr. Arafat Wednesday, Mr. Solana plans to meet with Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer and other Israeli officials. Meanwhile, Israeli troops fired warning shots and tear gas to repel at least 100 Palestinian demonstrators who tried to approach the besieged compound. The protesters, who waved Palestinian flags and shouted support for Mr. Arafat, were prevented from crossing an Israeli barricade in front of the compound. 

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart, Ismail Cem, are expected to make their own peace mission to the area. They plan to meet Thursday with Mr. Arafat, then cross-over for talks with Israeli leaders. A Greek government spokesman says the mission is of symbolic importance because it is being arranged by two long-time rival nations that have made huge strides toward peace. 

Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Cem are the architects of the Greece-Turkey rapprochement of the last three years. 

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. 

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