Mubarak meets German FM, US congressional team on peace making, bilateral ties
Egypt, Politics, 6/5/2000

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak yesterday had important talks with the 9-member US Congress delegation headed by the Chairman of the US House of Representatives Committee on Trade Thomas Bliley, an Egyptian statement said.

The president also received Joscha Fischer the German Foreign Minister with whom he discussed the Middle East Peace Process, bilateral relations and trade relations between Egypt and European Union (EU).

Mubarak also received Stephen Paul the President of George Washington University with whom he discussed the important role played by Egypt in the economic development of the Middle East and the Joint University projects between George Washington University and the Egyptian Universities.

Thomas Bliley the member of the US House of Representatives said he would discuss upon return home with Secretary of Trade William Daley the facilities needed for concluding the agreement on the free trade agreement between Egypt and the United States.

He said he would encourage other congressmen to visit Egypt to get acquainted with the conditions on the ground.

The US official described talks by the congress delegation with President Mubarak as having been excellent and focussed on developing trade relations between Egypt and the United States.

Bliley expressed his country's appreciation of the role played by President Mubarak in reactivating the peace process.

He hailed Egypt's role and the contacts it makes with various parties on the ways of preventing the outbreak of violence.

Stephen Paul, the President of George Washington University hailed President Mubarak's pivotal role in supporting the Middle East peace process and the important role-played by Egypt in enhancing economic development in the Middle East.

In statements to reporters after his meeting with the President, he said he tackled with President Mubarak the role to be played by Egypt in the post-peace era.

He said the meeting also touched on the projects between George Washington University and both the University and the Arab Academy for Maritime Transport as well as the student delegations exchange program.

He said the Egyptian high-cultured delegations will have a big role to play in deepening peace.

He added that George Washington University conferred Honorary Doctorate on President Mubarak out of its appreciation of his role.

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer hailed Egypt as a very important country in pushing forward Middle East peace process.

Emerging from a meeting with President Hosni Mubarak, the German official said they had discussed issues of common interest, including regional peacemaking and European Mediterranean cooperation.

"Inter-Mediterranean cooperation serves common interest and should be pursued," added Fischer, who arrived Saturday at the beginning of a regional tour.

Fischer said that he discussed with President Mubarak bilateral relations, Egyptian-European ties and means of increasing trade exchange.

He termed as cordial and fruitful talks with Mubarak and said that this was the second time that he met with the President. He said that the upcoming visit will be a step to further promote Egyptian-German ties.

The German official maintained that the Mediterranean region and Europe stand to benefit from the fulfillment of peace in the Middle East.

Any positive development in the regional peacemaking, Fischer explained, would also energize all Middle East economies, including Egypt.

Voicing support to the Palestinian State, he hoped that its emergence would not be the result of a unilateral measure.

He expressed hope that final-permanent peace negotiations would end on a successful note.

Palestinians and Israelis are scheduled to seal a permanent peace treaty by September 13.

Fischer told reporters that one of the key goals of his current regional tour was to explore prospects for a more effective role by Europe in pushing forward the Middle East peace process on all tracks.

He added that two days ago he had met US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in Berlin.

Previous Stories:
  US Congress delegation appreciates Mubarak's efforts to propel peace   (6/3/2000)
  German foreign minister arrives in Egypt today   (6/3/2000)
  Mubarak heralds Spain's peace efforts during a meeting with parliament speakers   (5/30/2000)

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