News In Brief

United Nations chief plans to meet with PLO's Arafat

United Nations Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, who has just completed a Middle East tour, said Wednesday he plans to meet soon with Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat.

''I think it's imperative that after visiting five countries in the Middle East - it's important to listen to Mr. Arafat who represents an organization with observer status in the United Nations,'' Mr. Perez de Cuellar told a news conference.

Perez de Cuellar refused to disclose a time or a place for the meeting, but Arafat is expected to arrive in Geneva sometime next week. The UN leader was in Geneva for a meeting of the UN's Economic and Social Council, which is expected to focus on problems in Africa.