BERLIN, July 21 (AFP) - Germany will continue to negotiate with embattled Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and his prime minister Ahmed Qorei, a government spokesman said on Wednedsay.
"The fact is that Yasser Arafat is president of the Palestinian Authority," said spokesman Thomas Steg.
"We have Palestinian institutions with representatives. They are the people we talk with and they are our partners when it comes to negotiations."
Arafat is facing an unprecedented challenge to his authority after he was forced to make a U-turn over his choice of security supremo following street protests in Gaza and a spate of kidnappings.
Qorei offered his resignation, but Arafat has persuaded him to stay in his job.
It was announced on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is to visit Berlin in September when he will hold talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.