US defense secretary arrives in Egypt
Egypt-USA, Politics, 11/5/1998

An Egyptian official source said on Wednesday that US Secretary of Defense William Cohen will arrive Today in Egypt to hold talks with President Mubarak on the renewed tensions with Iraq. The source added that Mubarak will receive Cohen at Sharm El-Sheikh resort.

Cohen is making a consultation tour with Washington's allies in Europe and the Arab Gulf on the crisis between Iraq and the UN on dismantling weapons of mass destruction.

On Wednesday, Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah received Cohen, who arrived in Kuwait earlier in the day for a several -hour visit. Talks during the meeting which was attended by the Kuwaiti crown prince and Prime Minister Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Sabah and defense minister Salem al-Sabah bilateral relations, dealt with the latest developments in the region and issues of mutual concern.

Earlier in the day, Cohen left Saudi Arabia and headed for Kuwait in the course of his tour of several Gulf states. On Tuesday night Saudi Arabia's King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, and Crown Prince Abdullah met with the US defense secretary. No information was disclosed on the content of the two meetings.

Cohen's visit to Saudi Arabia comes following his European tour, during which talks dealt with the dimensions of the recent Iraqi decision to halt relations with the UN committee in charge of inspecting chemical and biological weapons in Iraq.

Meanwhile, European Union defense ministers warned Iraq on Wednesday on the need to abide by UN resolutions.

British Defense Secretary George Robertson was quoted as saying in a press conference on the sidelines of the unofficial meeting of the EU defense ministers held in Vienna that he raised the question of Iraq at the beginning of the meeting.

He added that his "European counterparts shared his viewpoints concerning this matter." He added there is still the possibility of a grave crisis.

Previous Stories:
  King Fahd refuses use of Saudi territories against Iraq   (11/4/1998)
  Iraqi parliament approves decision to suspend cooperation with UNSCOM   (11/3/1998)
  US plan to topple Saddam by Iraqi opposition   (10/21/1998)

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