Moussa meets director-general of multinational forces in Sinai
Egypt-USA, Politics, 5/7/2001

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa met with Arthur Hughes, American, and director-general of the multi-national forces in Sinai, at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters.

Emerging from the meeting, Hughes said that he had exchanged views with Moussa on the work of the multinational forces in Sinai.

Asked about the aim of his meeting with Moussa and whether he presented a request to withdraw the multinational forces from Sinai, Hughes said that no decision has been reached on the withdrawal, but he added that it was an idea floated during President Hosni Mubarak visit to Washington.

According to statements made by President GeorgeW. Bush at a press conference, the United States will conduct a full review of the US troops participating in the multinational forces worldwide, added Hughes.

The international official expressed confidence that the US commitment to the multinational forces would continue in the future.

The US close connection with the Middle East was spelt-out by both US President GeorgeW. Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell, he said, asserting that American support to and participation in the multinational forces is part and parcel of this connection.

He recalled that every new US administration used, upon assuming office, to study and review American forces engaged in operations overseas such as the Sinai multinational forces.

He voiced belief that the Bush administration would eventually come to a conviction of the importance of full commitment to participation in the multinational forces to serve the best interests of the US and its partners in the region.

On Israeli reports that US peacekeepers in Sinai are subject to future terrorist attacks, the multinational forces commander ruled out such a possibility, asserting that the 11-nation forces had never been the targets of any attacks.

Previous Stories:
  US Ambassador to Egypt stresses importance of its role in ME   (5/1/2001)
  US strongly committed to broker Mideast peace   (4/24/2001)
  Congressmen thank Mubarak for fairness   (4/12/2001)

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