A message from President Mubarak to President al-Assad
Syria-Egypt, Politics, 8/24/1998

Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on Sunday received Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa who arrived in Damascus earlier in the day for a brief visit. Moussa conveyed a message to President al-Assad from Egypt's President Mubarak, and al-Assad asked Moussa to convey a reply message to Mubarak.

Talks dealt with conditions in and around the region and current developments, as well as the current impasse in the various Middle East peace tracks. The two sides stressed the importance of Arab solidarity during the present situation.

In a pre-departure statement later in the day, Moussa told reporters that Sudan made a request for a meeting to be convened of the Arab League council. "We will be informed of what Sudan wants to propose in tomorrow's meeting," Moussa added.

The Egyptian position toward the military strike Sudan received has changed, as Egypt decided to support Sudan in its complains against Washington in the Security Council, the Arab League, the summit of the Non-Aligned Movement countries next month in South Africa or in the Organization of African Unity. Moussa said Egypt urges the international community to protest against terrorists actions.

On the same point, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa said, "We will discuss Arab conditions during the meeting of the AL council." He continued, "We have agreed to follow up on Arab developments." Al-Sharaa went on to state that the meeting of the AL council will be an opportunity for the Arab FMs to discuss everything, including the Arab situation, the Arab summit and the peace process and its suspension.

In the same context, Israeli radio reported on Sunday that Moussa's visit to Damascus is in preparation for a coming visit by President Mubarak to Damascus, aimed at addressing an international peace conference in the Middle East, SANA reported.

Separately, Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa expressed his astonishment at the televised statements of Sudanese President Omar Bashir saying that the shelling of Khartoum by the US was carried out by airplanes that came from the north. Moussa stated that this "speech has nothing to do with truth."

Previous Stories:
  Netanyahu aide: No permanent deal with Palestine, withdrawal from Syria's Golan possible   (8/21/1998)
  Arab reaction to U.S. attacks on Afghanistan and Sudan sites   (8/21/1998)
  Mubarak meets Assad in Syria   (4/24/1998)

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