Maher starts visit to France, Italy
Egypt-European Union, Politics, 7/24/2001

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher will start a four-day European tour on Tuesday that will take him to France and Italy.

"The tour falls within the framework of contacts and efforts by Egypt with the various multilateral parties concerned with conditions in the Middle East and the distinguished relations between Egypt and each of the two countries," an official diplomatic source said Sunday.

"Maher's talks in Paris with his French counterpart Hubert Vedrine and other French government officials will focus on the latest regional and international developments of mutual interest, mainly the situation in the Middle East and Egyptian efforts exerted in coordination with France in particular and the European Union in general, as well as the co-sponsors of the peace process, the US and Russia, to stem the deteriorating conditions in the region," the source added.

"Maher's talks in France will tackle the different aspects of the distinguished relations between the two countries," the source pointed out.

The Foreign Minister's visit to Rome falls within the context of Egypt's contacts with the new Italian government aimed at activating relations between the two countries and tackling various international political issues of mutual concern.

In statements to reporters Sunday, Maher said that he will hand over a message from President Hosni Mubarak to French President Jacques Chirac including the Egyptian leadership's views regarding the current situation in the Middle East and expressing Egypt's appreciation of the French role in supporting the Palestinian rights.

"The visit to France will take place upon an invitation by Vedrine who expressed his wish to hold such meetings to discuss the Mideast situation," he added.

Maher is to visit Italy on his way back following his visit to France to meet with the new Italian foreign minister and hold talks on various regional and international issues, especially and latest developments in the Middle East, European-Mediterranean cooperation and bilateral ties.

In statements to MENA Egypt Ambassador in Paris, Ali Maher said France is concerned to know Egypt's assessment of the current situation in the Palestinian lands and will try to find together with Egypt ways to get out of the current crisis.

About the support of G-8 to the idea of sending international observers as quick as possible to the Palestinians, Maher said this support is the first step on the road, especially as the US was among the first countries approving the Genoa communique, an Egyptian report said.

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