Communicated by Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jerusalem, 23 January 1997 Foreign Ministry Director-General meets with British Minister of State Foreign Ministry Director-General Eitan Bentsur met today (Thursday), 23.1.97, with the British Minister of State in the Foreign Office and Minister of International Cooperation Linda Chalker. Minister Chalker expressed satisfaction with the excellent bilateral ties between the U.K. and Israel, and said that her government is looking forward to President Ezer Weizman's visit at the end of February. She expressed high esteem for the Israeli government and the positive role which it played vis-a-vis the signing of the Hebron protocol. She added that in her opinion, the parties must immediately proceed to the next steps included in the Interim Agreement, such as the release of women prisoners, secure passage, etc. in order to give momentum to the process. She also expressed her concern over the closure's effect on the economy of the Palestinian Authority-controlled areas. Foreign Ministry Director-General Bentsur pointed out that committees have been established to continue the negotiations in order to solve the problems which Minister Chalker had raised. In this context, he noted the positive role being played by EU special envoy Miguel Martinez. Director-General Bentsur emphasized that security must be intertwined with the process, and that it would be desirable to inform the other side that speeches about jihad do not contribute to calming passions and even constitute a danger, since they create a violent atmosphere. Mr. Bentsur added that an interministerial committee -- headed by Foreign Ministry Deputy Director-General for International Organizations Yitzhak Lior -- has been established to deal with easing the passage of EU citizens from Israel to the PA, and vice-versa. He also mentioned the cooperation between Israel and the PA in the fields of agriculture, medicine, etc. He recalled that approximately 160 Palestinian experts participated in advance training seminars in Israel, and added that experimental farms are due to be established in Jordan and the Gaza Strip, in which joint development plans will be implemented.