Eleysee Palace spokesman: situation in ME is very dangerous
Egypt-France, Politics, 11/10/2001

At his meeting with President Mubarak on Monday, French President Jacques Chirac will explain the ideas France intends to launch in the upcoming days and weeks on the Middle East, and Afghanistan, especially after his meeting with US President George Bush, his participation in the mini-European summit in London, his meeting with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Lakhdar A1 Ibrahimi, the United Nations envoy to Afghanistan.

President Chirac plans to get acquainted with President Mubarak's views on the French notion of establishing an international coalition on peace and security in the Middle East and the French plan on Afghanistan upon which debates are underway in the Security Council with the aim of adopting a relevant resolution in the upcoming few days on it.

A diplomatic source said that the Egyptian French talks will focus on developments in the occupied territories in the light of the Egyptian French contacts with the US, Israel and Palestinians.

With the aim of accelerating the resumption of negotiations in the light of European emphasis on the need for declaring the Palestinian state.

The two leaders will discuss efforts by the two countries for facing implications of September 11 incidents and the French Egyptian coordination in the political, economic and commercial fields.

Meantime, French sources said that President Chirac's visit acquires a special significance as it comes at the time when the Middle East situation is very critical.

He said that political consultations are underway on ways of expanding cooperation between the two countries in the various domains.

Meantime, "The visit to be paid by French President Jacques Chirac to Egypt next Monday falls within the context of French intensified efforts to encounter tension worldwide as regards the two hot issues of international terrorism and tension triggered by the Israeli policies in the Palestinian territories," said Egypt's Ambassador in Paris Ali Maher.

"I am optimistic over the outcome of Chirac's expected visit to Egypt," said Maher in an interview with Sawt A1 Arab Radio from Paris.

"President Chirac's meeting with President Hosni Mubarak falls within contacts he makes with prominent world leaders, particularly after the mini-European summit he held in London with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, in addition to his meeting last Tuesday with US President George W. Bush," said Maher.

He pointed out that France is interested in this very critical stage to have consultations with President Mubarak, who plays a pivotal role in combating terrorism.

An official spokesman for Eleysee Palace said in statements to Akhbar El Youm that the situation in the Middle East is very critical, adding it is important that regional crises should not transfer into international ones.

The spokesman said that President Chirac had explained to President Bush that international coalition against terrorism could not be maintained without being actively involved in the Palestinian Israeli cause as the sustained deadlock in the Middle East will continue to create a situation supporting claims by terrorists.

The spokesman said that President Mubarak will discuss with President Chirac progress of efforts for setting up an Afghan government and aspects of the political solution to the Afghan crisis especially in terms of ways of maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East, after the end of the military operation.

President Chirac will discuss with President Mubarak details of the French initiative for convening an urgent conference on extending humanitarian aid to the Afghan people as soon as possible given the advent of winter in Afghanistan.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak's anti-terrorism conference is step in right direction   (11/6/2001)
  Chirac supports Mubarak's call for anti-terror conference   (9/25/2001)
  Mubarak -Chirac talks dwell on terrorism-combat, Palestinian cause   (9/24/2001)

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