Mubarak in Paris today for talks on Middle East issue
Egypt-France, Politics, 2/7/2002

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak arrives in Paris today on a three- day visit to France at the invitation of French President Jacques Chirac.

Mubarak will attend the summit on development in Africa called for by Chirac. The summit will begin on Friday with 13 African Heads of State attending.

Mubarak and Chirac will start talks at the Elysee Palace on Saturday to be followed by a lunch banquet.

The two leaders will discuss the French proposals to end the deteriorating conditions in the Middle East region.

Mubarak will brief Chirac on the outcome of his talks with Israeli Defence Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, US envoy William Burns as well as the results of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's meeting with senior Palestinian officials last week.

The two leaders will also discuss the current international anti-terror campaign and efforts to prevent the expansion of the campaign in addition to bilateral relations. Mubarak will return home on Saturday.

Middle East tension and French proposals for unblocking the peace process will figure high on agenda of Mubarak- Chirac talks, said a Spokesman for the Elysee Palace Wednesday.

He added that Chirac attaches great importance to his meeting with Mubarak as he looks forward to listening to Mubarak's views.

France is in constant contact with Mubarak, who is one of the most prominent personalities all over the world and France is one of the main partners to Egypt, said the spokesman.

The Mubarak Chirac meeting is taking on more significance after Palestinian International Cooperation Minister Nabil Shaath voiced Palestinians' support, in principle, to the French ideas, said diplomatic sources.

French proposals are based on recognition of a Palestinian State as a starting point that would be followed with tackling the final-status issues and holding elections in the Palestinian territories.

Mubarak will arrive in Paris today for a three-day visit during which he will join Chirac and other African leaders for a summit on African development.

In Cairo, Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs Samy Yassin said the Africa development summit, slated for Friday in Paris, seeks an exchange of viewpoints over a new plan for development in Africa.

Previous Stories:
  French proposals aimed at ending Middle East predicament   (2/2/2002)
  Mubarak-Chirac talks deal with Middle East deteriorating situation   (2/2/2002)
  Egypt to be France's key natural gas supplier   (1/24/2002)

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