Mubarak's US visit comes at significant time
Egypt-USA, Politics, 3/29/2001

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa Wednesday night said that President Hosni Mubarak's next week visit to the US would be made at a significant time.

"It (the visit) comes after a new US Administration has taken office.

The Administration has not spelt out its position with clear-cut policies on a number of issues of importance to Egypt and the region," he said before leaving for Washington.

He added that talks between President Mubarak and President George W. Bush would tackle all regional issues, including the peace process, Iraq and Sudan.

Moreover, Moussa and Minister of Communications and Information Technology Ahmed Nazif will each hold Thursday separate talks with American officials to prepare for President Hosni Mubarak's forthcoming visit to the United States.

Moussa's schedule includes a meeting with US National Security Adviser Condoleczza Rice, a few hours after his arrival.

Moussa will also meet with representatives of Arab and Islamic Organizations and some prominent members of the House of Representatives.

He is due to hold talks with Secretary of State Colin Powell on Friday to review the outcome of Amman pan-Arab summit and expound Egypt's views regarding various issues in the region, mainly the Middle East peace process and the situation in Iraq. They will also discuss bilateral ties.

Nazif will meet with representatives of major international firms to tackle Egypt's experience in the domain of information technology and study means of promoting cooperation with the American side.

Meanwhile, former US Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Robert Pelletreau said that the United States looked forward to President Hosni Mubarak's next week visit to Washington.

In a satellite interview with Egyptian TV late Wednesday, he added that the main topic to be put for discussion was improving prospects for Arab-Israeli peacemaking, the Iraqi issue and Gulf stability.

He added that President Mubarak would come up with important views following an Arab summit which concluded earlier in the day.

The US is interested to know these views, he said. The US diplomat described Mubarak as a leader of credibility and trust.

As for the US reaction to the Arab summit resolutions, Pelletreau said the United States would be interested in listening to messages President Mubarak would convey.

Arab leaders Wednesday concluded their first regular summit which was held in Amman on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Pelletreau said that US Administration would have no objection to the creation of an Arab common market as other regions of the world already had their own.

He described the initiative as very positive.

On Middle East Peace, Pelletreau underlined the need to find a way to stop violence.

As for a free trade agreement between Egypt and the United States, he denied that the delay was intended to get Israel involved in economic cooperation in the Middle East.

It does not depend, in reality, on regional peacemaking process or trade exchange between Egypt and Israel or any other Arab state and Israel but rather on the future of trade between Egypt and the US, he explained.

As for the future of Mubarak-Gore program under the new US Administration, Pelletreau said that the USAID program for Egypt and Egyptian economic reforms had not changed.

Previous Stories:
  Al Azhar rejects meddling in Egypt's Internal Affairs   (3/26/2001)
  People's Assembly rejects foreign intervention in Egypt's internal affairs   (3/26/2001)
  Mubarak's Washington agenda busy   (3/26/2001)

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