Mubarak receives Russian FM today
Egypt-Russia, Politics, 11/15/2000

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak receives today visiting Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov who arrived in Cairo earlier on Tuesday coming from Iraq as part of a multi-leg Middle East tour.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Russian opposite number, Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said their two-hour meeting took up the situation in the Middle East and Iraq.

Egypt welcomes the Russian role, said Moussa, praising as positive bilateral consultations between the two countries at the highest levels in view of Russia's capacity as a co-sponsor of the peace process.

The Foreign Minister asserted that Moscow plays an active diplomatic role in the Iraqi issue.

Ivanov expressed, on his part, the Russian leadership's satisfaction with progress in bilateral relations with Egypt.

"Russia attaches major importance to activating consultations and contacts with Egypt on all regional and international issues, foremost among which is the Middle East peacemaking drive," said Ivanov.

He reiterated his country's keenness on pursuing active political dialogue with Egypt on both bilateral and international issues.

Asked about hope to revive the Middle East peace process, Ivanov described the process as the only way for a comprehensive settlement to all regional disputes.

He underlined the importance of bringing the process back on track according to the Madrid terms of reference, UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 and signed agreements.

On whether Egypt will be a third sponsor of the process, Ivanov said that Egypt is influential both regionally and worldwide.

He added that Egypt has been contributing to efforts for a Middle East settlement and voiced appreciation to the Egyptian role.

He also added that Moscow supports President Mubarak initiative to declare the Middle East of mass destruction.

"Egypt has been playing a non-stop role in the peacemaking drive," said Ivanov.

Russia had welcomed agreements clinched in the Sharm EL Sheikh summit meeting, said the Russian top diplomat.

He voiced his country's belief that more efforts should be exerted by Russia, Egypt and other parties for a full implementation of those agreements.

Ivanov said that he had exchanged viewpoints with Moussa on needed formulas to resume the process.

He underlined the need to draw an effective mechanism to reach positive outcome and avoid such crises.

"The Middle East peace process should resume on a solid basis and must not be forgotten or cancelled," said Ivanov.

He underlined that the peacemaking drive should be revived on clear bases away from blatant bias especially with regard to acts of violence perpetrated by the occupation force against the people in the occupied lands.

Moussa and Ivanov saw eye to eye on the importance of guaranteeing a just and balanced peace process.

The top Russian diplomat urged working to avert such crisis suffered by the peace process in the future.

On why the international fact-finding committee on occupied Palestine did not include a Russian representative especially that Russia is a co-broker of the Middle East peace process, Ivanov said his country is only concerned with the outcome and can not participate in all task forces.

Though Russia did not attend the Sharm El-Sheikh summit, it welcomed its agreements and will contribute to their implementation, he noted.

On Egyptian-Russian economic and trade relations, Moussa asserted that the issue will be further tackled over a working dinner with his Russian guest.

Ivanov recalled, on his part, exchanging views with Moussa on the Iraqi issue and the outcome of his recent visit to Baghdad.

Russia believes that it is high time to take effective steps to lift sanctions imposed on Iraq, he stressed.

The top Russian diplomat Russian voiced satisfaction with developments in Egyptian -Russian relations.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak invites Putin to visit Egypt   (4/20/2000)
  Mubarak receiving message from Russian president   (4/1/2000)
  Egypt - Russia talks   (3/6/2000)

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