PARIS, Feb 27: Yasser Arafat, in an exclusive interview with Le Monde, says that as far as he’s concerned the buffer zones proposed by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon are “dangerous, in contradiction with all the accords already concluded (between Palestine and Israel), and with all (existing) international conventions.”

“How,” continues President Arafat, “can the United States, Europe and the United Nations possibly accept them?”

Moreover, he continues, “any unilateral separation is equally a dangerous idea which could end up destabilizing the entire region.”

Queried as to how contacts between Palestinians and Israelis could be “resumed” in this context, Arafat retorts by saying that “we haven’t ceased at all our contacts. A little while ago, I even sent three of my collaborators to see the Prime Minister (Ariel Sharon), and then we have continued relations with Shimon Peres, as with Abraham Burg (the president of the Knesset).”

“Unfortunately,” adds Arafat, “while all of this is going on, the Prime Minister (Sharon) continues to pursue his military plans. (As a result) there is not one Palestinian institution that has not been bombarded.”

“How can we continue to support such destruction, that of our airport, of our radio headquarters, our projected port, the destruction of houses, of agricultural lands? How can the world accept all these crimes? Our economic situation is catastrophic. Every month I have problems just paying my civil servants.”

Asked whether Palestine’s situation was nevertheless better than it was two months ago, Arafat replies that “the Palestinians resist, but they do suffer.

‘‘We have decided to engage ourselves in the peace process, but the international community has a responsibility, as does the United States, the United Nations, Russia and Europe.

‘‘Today, what we would need is that international observers be sent (to the occupied territories) to see that the peace process is saved.”