Powell's tour,represents new US policy towards region
Egypt-USA, Politics, 2/24/2001

Egypt's Ambassador in Washington Nabil Fahmi described, as a start of a new US era towards the Middle East region, the US State Secretary Colin Powell's tour of the Mideast region due, to start Saturday.

Fahmi said Powell will discuss a number of issues of concern to the region, on top of which are the Mideast peace process and the situation in Iraq, Iran and Palestinian lands.

In an interview with Cairo Radio over the telephone from Washington, Fahmi said there were contacts between the American Administration and officials in Israel to ease violence in the territories, and the siege imposed on Palestinian towns and urge the Israeli officials to pay overdues owed to the Palestinian Authority.

President Hosni Mubarak's meeting with Powell acquires a special importance, Fahmi said, adding that Mubarak is highly appreciated by the American Administration which likes to learn about the Egyptian viewpoints regarding the region before forging the American political agenda.

Regarding the meeting held between Fahmi and Powell, the Egyptian ambassador said Powell was not a new character to the Middle East.

Powell is currently assuming the State Department and he is no longer a defence secretary, the ambassador said.

Therefore, we have to consider the political aspects and not the military ones, he added.

The meeting with powell also aimed at making certain preparations for his tour of the region as well as expound`ing Cairo's views regarding various issues, he said.

On whether Bush has forged specific policy towards the Middle East peace process, Fahmi voiced his belief that the US policy's has been already drawn up.

Powell told Fahmi during their meeting that the US policy has been fomed, but tactic steps had to be made to reach a comprehensive peace between the Arabs and Israelis.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt seeks to boost ties with the US   (1/25/2001)
  Egypt, US to review regional issues   (1/22/2001)
  Moussa to discuss with Powell ME issues   (1/20/2001)

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