President Mubarak keen to support Lebanon
Lebanon-Egypt, Politics, 5/18/2000

Activities of the fourth session of the higher joint Egyptian-Lebanese Committee opened in Beirut yesterday under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Atef Ebeid and Lebanese counterpart Salim al-Hoss.

The committee will discuss a number of important economic and political issues mainly taking steps for expanding the volume of trade exchange.

Premiers Ebeid and Hoss are due to inaugurate tomorrow two power generating stations which were rehabilitated by the Egyptian experts.

On the political scene, Prime Minister Atef Ebeid today conveyed a message from President Mubarak to Lebanese President Emile Lahoud dealing with bilateral relations.

He will meet with Speaker of the Lebanese House of deputies to discuss the latest developments in Lebanon in the light of the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon next July.

Ebeid arrived in Beirut yesterday on a three day visit to Lebanon.

He held a tete-a-tete meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Salim al-Hoss. Following the meeting Ebeid reiterated Egypt's keenness to expand trade with Lebanon. "It is proper that we plan to benefit from our own potentials," he said.

The Prime Minister pinpointed the importance of using the resources and wealth of the two states to realize integration and enhance trade exchange. Ebeid lauded the capability of the Lebanese to spread in international markets, open markets for their products, and lure businesses and investments.

He mentioned the gains that could be generated by meshing up the electricity, transportation, and natural gas grids of both states as well as airports and seaports. Ebeid said that the two states should agree on the borderlines of cooperation in the domain of tourism to increase their quota in the international market and have a common direction.

He offered to help Lebanon create its database as Egypt has a 15-year experience in building such a base and providing service to the public and private sector.

Al-Hoss Wednesday lauded his country's distinguished relations with Egypt, highlighting Egyptian President Mubarak's support of Lebanon in various domains.

In his inaugurating speech to the fourth session of the higher joint Egyptian-Lebanese Committee, Hoss sounded his country's aspirations to further its relations with Egypt in both economic and political fields.

He laid emphasis on the importance of backing Lebanon, especially with the approach of the date slated for Israel's withdrawal from South Lebanon, which, he said, would enable Lebanon to revive its national economy.

Hoss also voiced hope that Ebeid's visit as well as the current joint meetings would come up with positive steps towards enhancing the two countries' bilateral relations.

Five memos of understanding and cooperation agreements will be signed on cooperation in the field of trade, investment, information, education and labor.

Egypt supports the Lebanese stand and President Mubarak has repeatedly called for a full Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon and its Western Bekaa in line with UN Resolutions 425 and 426.

Information Minister Safwat a1-Sherif made the statement at a joint press conference Wednesday with his Lebanese counterpart Anwar El Khalil, following the inaugural session of the Egyptian Lebanese Higher Committee.

Al-Sheriff made it clear that Egypt backed Lebanon's adherence to the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426. "Yesterday's meeting of the higher committee is the fruition of the historic visit to Lebanon last February by President Mubarak, and a similar recent visit President Emile Lahoud paid to Egypt," Sherif said.

Khalil said Ebeid relayed President Mubarak's assertion that Egypt unreservedly stood by Lebanese independence, sovereign, and territorial integrity, and that it would contribute to reconstruction efforts and repairs of what Israel had destroyed.

The Lebanese Information Minister said Hoss told the higher committee of the almost daily Israeli attacks against Lebanon, especially the three major onslaughts that targeted vital infrastructure.

Khalil considered the projected Israeli withdrawal a victory for Lebanon. "For the first time Israel withdraws under the resistance pressure," he said.

Pointing out that UN Resolution 425 stipulated full Israeli pullout from all Lebanese territories, Khalil said if Israeli troops did not leave Shebaa farms - which Israel says are Syrian territory - then Israel would be in breach of the Resolution.

Hoping for Arab support for Lebanon in its confrontation with Israel, Khalil singled out an Egyptian role in this regard.

Lebanon appreciates Egypt's role Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Ahmed E1 Darsh stressed Lebanon's keenness on cooperating with Egypt in all fields.

In an interview Wednesday with Sawt A1 Arab Radio over telephone Darsh, currently visiting Lebanon, said the Egyptian side felt Lebanon's high appreciation for Egypt's leadership, government and people.

Darsh, said his visit to Lebanon aims at boosting all aspects of bilateral cooperation and forging a new mechanism to exchange economic, trade and investment information and rebuild Lebanon's infrastructure, devastated by Israeli aggression.

The higher committee will hold three sessions under Prime Minister Atef Ebeid and his Lebanese counterpart Dr. Selim El Hoss to deal with ways to boost cooperation in various economic fields and put into effect the agreements previously signed by the two countries in the past three sessions.

During this session, a number of agreements, protocols and memos of understanding between Egypt and Lebanon will be signed.

Prime Minister Atef Ebeid and his Lebanese counterpart Salim al-Hoss this morning are due to inaugurate the sixth annual Conference on Investment and Arab Capital Markets which runs for three days.

The conference will be attended by 500 officials and experts from the Arab world, Europe, America and Asia for discussing encouragement of investment in the Arab countries and the role of financial bodies for achieving high development rates.

In his statement before the conference, Ebeid will tackle the Egyptian economic reform and Egypt's development policies.

He will explain Egypt's urgent plans for reactivating technological development and maintaining political stability and social balance.

The Prime Minister will illustrate Egypt's efforts for accelerating the establishment of the Arab economic bloc in order to face world challenges in the field of trade liberalization, globalization and Uruguay round agreements.

The conference will discuss priorities of urgent economic reform in Arab countries, liberalization of financial service and ways of benefiting from the revolution of telecommunications.

The conference will be attended by senior officials in the banking system, financial establishments, businessmen and experts.

The conference will be held under the auspices of the Lebanese Central Bank, the International Financing Corporation and Lebanese Banks Association.

Previous Stories:
  Hizbullah asks Lahd Militia members to demonstrate loyalty; Egyptian - Lebanese moral support   (5/15/2000)
  Ebeid heads to Beirut on Wednesday   (5/15/2000)
  Egyptian prime minister visits Lebanon   (5/13/2000)

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