Egypt exerts utmost efforts to achieve Mideast peace
Egypt-USA, Politics, 3/27/2000

President Hosni Mubarak met with a number of Egyptians living in the US at his Blair House residence. More than 20 prominent figures of the Egyptian community attended the meeting as well as the delegation accompanying the President.

Information Minister Safwat el-Sherif said that representatives of the Egyptian community were keen to welcome President Mubarak during his current visit to the United States.

"At the beginning of his meeting with members of the Egyptian community, President Mubarak said that Egypt is giving great attention to the peace process in order to realize stability for all peoples of the region" Al-Sherif said.

President Mubarak stressed that Egypt exerts utmost efforts to realize a just and overall peace which will, in the end, lead to raising the living standard of the peoples of the area and bolster its capabilities in the new century.

Sherif said that President Mubarak dealt during the meeting with several issues related to national action and Egyptian policy.

As regards the peace process, specifically, President Mubarak stressed that Egypt gives attention to the process considering that it is extremely vital to realize stability in the region and for all its peoples.

President Mubarak pointed out that the peace process is related to, and has its effect on progress whether in political reform and what has been achieved of development in this sphere or in economic reform.

Peace is closely related to these reform courses which, in the end, lead to raising the standard of living, places Egypt in the proper place and bolsters Egypt's capabilities at the threshold of the new century.

"The third topic tackled by President Mubarak during his meeting with the Egyptian community in the US was Egypt's interest in developing strong armed forces to defend Egypt's national soil rather than attacking any other country," Sherif said.

"President Mubarak took up the issue of economic reform. He talked about Egypt's economic conditions when he assumed office in 1981," Sherif added.

The president recalled that the economic reform was a necessity to avert more deterioration especially in the then-poor infrastructure, according to the Information Minister.

"During the meeting, President Mubarak spelled out deep appreciation of the Egyptian people who recognized the danger and shouldered the short-term burdens of the reform program," Sherif said.

"The fourth issue discussed during Mubarak's meeting with the Egyptian community, was building up a modern Egyptian state based on justice, respect of human rights, transparency and democracy," Sherif added.

Taking up the issue of the privatization program, President Mubarak asserted that the social dimension and the interests of workers are being taken into consideration by the government, according to the Information Minister.

"President Mubarak then voiced readiness to answer questions by Egyptian expatriates," said the Information Minister.

"President Mubarak underlined that the main principle is that he is the President of all Egyptians regardless of their religious affiliation," Sherif said.

"The President denied western media reports about alleged sectarian sedition in Egypt, asserting that such allegations are being propagated by few people totally out of touch with the real situation in Egypt," the minister recalled.

President Mubarak highlighted the freedom of worship in Egypt, noting that there are governing rules for constructing or revamping existing worship places to prevent fundamentalists, both Muslim and Christian, from triggering clashes.

A number of Christian figures attended Mubarak's meeting with members of the Egyptian community including Archbishop Dawood who briefed the President on the content of the message of the Head of the Coptic Church Pope Shenouda III message to Egyptian Copts.

The Pope asked them to give a cordial welcome to President Mubarak during his visit to the US and hailed his endeavors to bolster national unity between Egyptian Muslims and Christians.

President Mubarak underlined, during his meeting with the Egyptian community in the US, that Egypt-US relations are founded on common interests and mutual respect, asserting they are not governed by aid.

"The issue of US aid to Egypt had never been floated during any visit to the US," President Mubarak said, praising as "strategic" the two countries' cooperation.

"The President recalled that the Egyptian armed forces are being able, through the national service body, to set up projects in difficult areas before entrusting them to the Egyptian private sector," Sherif said.

"President Mubarak cited, in this regard, national projects such as Sharq Owaynat, Toshka and others," he added.

"At the close of the meeting, President Mubarak voiced happiness over seeing his fellow countrymen assuming their due roles in the US society," the minister concluded.

Previous Stories:
  Ebeid hails Mubarak's Washington visit as historic   (3/25/2000)
  Interview with senior US officials on regional issues: Part 1, Egypt   (3/25/2000)
  Baz highlights importance of Mubarak's visit to US   (3/23/2000)

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