Diplomats stress significance of Mubarak's European tour
Egypt-European Union, Politics, 4/21/2001

The Egyptian Ambassador to Germany stressed importance of President Hosni Mubarak's expected visit to Berlin, which coincides with the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.

In statements to MENA, Mahmoud Mubarak said that the president's visit provides a chance to further Egyptian German relations and represents a substantial step for more coordination between both leaderships to spur the European Union (EU) into more effective involvement in the region.

The Egyptian Ambassador said that the President's expected meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, which is their fourth mirrors the profound personal relations between the two leaders. He added that the visit is also the first to Berlin since it has become the capital of the United Germany.

On economic cooperation, the Ambassador said that they witnessed significant developments in recent years, most important of which is the reduction of Egypt's trade deficit during 2000 by 23.5% compared to 1999.

"Egypt's exports to Germany hit 548 million Deutsch Mark (DM)," he said.

"The German support for the Egyptian reform program materialized in Germany's acceptance of the Egyptian proposal to exchange the debts owed by Egypt to Berlin for German investments in Egypt until 2005," said Mubarak.

Germany has showed commitment to put this plan into force as of 2001, said Mubarak, adding that 75 DM of the debts will be written off in the form of development projects in Egypt.

He said that Egyptian exports to Germany include ceramics, oil and rice whereas Egyptian exports to Egypt include tractors, wood, cement, chemical products and electric devices.

Meantime, Egypt's Ambassador to Romania Samir Al Hattab said in exclusive statements to Al-Ahram that President Mubarak's official visit to Romania on April 25-26 will give a new push to Romanian-Egyptian relations as talks would focus on ways of cementing bilateral relations and the deteriorating position in the Middle East region.

In Cairo, Romanian ambassador in Cairo, D. Costia told A1 Ahram that President Mubarak's talks in Romania would focus on bilateral relations in the political, economic, commercial and parliamentary fields, and developments of position in the Middle East.

Ambassador Costia said that a high level Romanian delegation is currently visiting Cairo for talks with foreign ministry officials in the framework of a Middle East tour to get acquainted with the developments of the Middle East peace process.

Ambassador Costia said that his country welcomes the visit as bilateral relations need more efforts and activity in the economic fields.

He said that President Mubarak would discuss with Romanian President Ion Iliescu ways of shoring up economic cooperation.

He said that Romania was looking forward to a fruitful exchange of views on the latest developments in the Middle East adding Romania was interested in maintaining security and stability in the Middle East.

Ambassador Costia said Egyptian-Romanian projects to be established in the upcoming two years are valued at $ 500 million.

He said that Egypt's exports to Romania amounted to $ 17 million whereas Romanian exports to Egypt amounted $ 71 million.

He said that Romania imports Egyptian medicines to the value of $ 6,8 million.

He said that Presidents Mubarak and Iliescu would discuss ways of supporting private sector adding the two sides signed last March 29, a protocol for establishing business council, referring to prospects for between the Egyptian and Romanian sectors.

He said that President Mubarak's talks with the Romanian officials would discuss the Romanian experiment in crisis management in the organization on security and cooperation in Europe.

Meantime, Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said that President Mubarak's European tour acquires a special significance as it comes on the heels of the recent Amman Summit and his visit to the United States.

He said that President Mubarak's talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Senior German officials would deal with ways of reactivating the peace process deadlock and distinguished bilateral relations.

He said that President Mubarak's visit to Romania acquires a special significance, as it would tackle bilateral relations and the progress of peace talks in the Middle East.

In Moscow, Moussa said, the summit talks between President Mubarak and Russian President Vladimir Putin would discuss ways of giving a push to Egyptian Russian relations, and the Middle East peace process given the fact that Russia is the second sponsor of the Middle East peace process.

He said that talks will tackle regional and international issues of the Middle East peace process.

Previous Stories:
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