On his part, Javier Solana, the European Union's foreign policy chief,also said the "best tribute" to Arafat would be to renewefforts to implement the 2003 "road map" peace plan whichenvisions an end to violence and the creation of aPalestinian state. Terje Roed-Larsen, the U.N.'s longtime Middle East envoyand a key mediator in past peace talks, said Arafat's lastyears were marred by mistakes. "One of the reasons his credibility as a leader wasundermined on the Palestinian side was an increasingagreement among the leadership and the Palestinian peoplethat Arafat had led them in the wrong direction over thepast four years," Roed-Larsen told Norwegian state radioNRK. "Yasser Arafat's life stands for the varied and tragichistory of the Palestinian people and the Middle East as awhole," German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said in astatement. "In it were reflected many people's hopes forpeace, but time and again also their disappointments andsetbacks." Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern said it was "tragic"that Arafat did not live to see an independent Palestinianstate."We're very impressed with the Palestinianleadership over recent weeks. They have upheld the rule oflaw within Palestine," Ahern said.--SPA1439 Local Time 1139 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/216752