Mubarak in Riyadh meets with Fahd, Abdullah; No Egyptian forces to Iraq
Saudi Arabia-Egypt, Politics, 10/1/2003

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak yesterday discussed with the Saudi Arabia's King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz in Riyadh the situation in Iraq and the Palestinian territories at a time when the political advisor for the Egyptian President Osama al-Baz said that his country will not send forces to Iraq.

In statements before Mubarak had left Abu Dhabi heading for Saudi Arabia, al-Baz said that Egypt will not send forces to Iraq and noone asked it to do so. He added that the question of Iraq is an area for discussion among the Arab leaders including the talks that took place between Mubarak and President of the United Arab Emirates UAE Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

He said "what is important now is to quickly end the military presence in Iraq and enable the Iraqi people to practice their sovereignty on their soil." Replying to a question on the possibility that Egypt will be contacting the Palestinians and the Israelis after the formation of the new Palestinian government, al-Baz said "Egypt will not give up its role, and will continue to play a basic role to controlling the Israeli extremism and supporting the Palestinian brothers."

On rumors to that Egypt will receive the Palestinians President Yasser Arafat in case he is expelled from Israel, he said that "Egypt does not want to receive Arafat as an expelled man, nor thinks of that."

Mubarak's talks with King Fahd in Riyadh in the presence of senior officials representing the two states and the Saudi crown prince dealt with "latest developments on the Arab, Islamic and international arenas especially the Palestinian issue and the acts of killing and besiege imposed on the Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces and the efforts made to reach a just solution for this issue as well as latest developments in Iraq," according to the Saudi news agency which also added that the two sides discussed "prospects of cooperation between the two countries and means of supporting and strengthening them in all fields in the service of common interests."

Mubarak also discussed the same issues with crown prince Abdulah who received him together with the accompanying delegation upon his arrival at Riyadh's airport, in a separate meeting.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak, Abdullah hold closing session of talks on Arab issues   (8/12/2003)
  Mubarak-Abdullah talks focus on Mideast peace, Iraq's future   (8/11/2003)
  Crown Prince Abdullah visits Egypt Sunday   (8/8/2003)

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