Mubarak visits Pentagon
Egypt-USA, Politics, 3/31/2000

President Hosni Mubarak arrived yetserday at the Pentagon, where he held an expanded working session with Defense Secretary William Cohen, his aides and with high-ranking military officers from the various branches of the US armed forces.

Cohen welcomed the President upon arrival at the Defense Ministry premises (Pentagon).

Cohen briefly met with President Mubarak at his Pentagon office before the two moved to an adjacent hall for a working breakfast hosted in honor of the visiting Egyptian President and his accompanying delegation.

Attending the breakfast were also Deputy Defense Secretary John Hamre, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Harry Shelton and four Senators including Chairman of the Armed Services Committee John Warner.

Terry Mitchel, in charge of media affairs at the pentagon, said an expanded session of talks was held, attended by a number of Pentagon experts who briefed president Mubarak on a recent initiative sponsored by Cohen on cooperation for Defense.

Speaking to reporters, Senator Warner said President Mubarak's meeting with the Defense Department was excellent and beneficial, adding that President Mubarak`s Wednesday meeting with Congressmen covered a number of issues of mutual concern.

Addressing the press later, Secretary Cohen said his talks with President Mubarak covered means of consolidating military cooperation.

Speaking of President Mubarak`s meeting with Congressional leaders, Cohen said Mubarak enjoyed considerable respect among Congress Members, some of whom were keen to attend part of the President's meeting with Pentagon's top officials.

On the issues raised during his talks with Mubarak, Cohen said they included proposed US programs for Egypt and the entire Mideast region, such as the setting up of a joint early warning system and the "Cooperation for Defense" initiative.

The talks also dealt with the programs being implemented in Egypt, especially in the military cooperation area.

Drawn on whether his talks with President Mubarak included the rendering of the Middle East a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, Secretary Cohen said they specifically talked about prospects of taking measures aimed at protecting Egyptian military and civilians through joint early-warning systems.

Underlining the need for getting rid of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons in the region, Cohen said sufficient preventive means should at the same time be provided this, he added, was also raised with President Mubarak.

Asked if the talks tackled armament programs in a more definitive way, Cohen said they did not, adding that the issue would be discussed during his coming visit to Egypt.

Speaking of military cooperation with Egypt, Cohen cited the "Bright Star" maneuvers as a good example in this regard, and said his Joint Chiefs of staff Chairman is appreciative of Egypt's leading role in this respect, an official statement said.

Previous Stories:
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