Mubarak, Hamad share common views on regional issues
Bahrain-Egypt, Politics, 12/21/1999

President Hosni Mubarak, in the third stop of his Gulf tour, held talks in Bahrain yesterday covering the Middle East peace process. Mubarak, in the Gulf Arab state for a two-day visit, discussed the peace process and other regional and bilateral issues with Bahrain Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa.

The President arrived in Bahrain yesterday after stops in Qatar and Saudi Arabia where his talks with the Arab leaders also covered the revived peace negotiations between Israel and Syria and development in Sudan, as President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has imposed a three-month state of emergency.

Mubarak told Bahrain TV his talks with Sheikh Hamad was a continuation of the constant contacts between the two countries, adding that these contacts basically aim to promote Arab interests and settle inter-Arab disputes.

He explained that the talks covered economic issues, especially the need to create a strong Arab economic bloc that can protect the interests of Arab countries in the long run.

The President hoped that Arab states can agree to hold a summit meeting to deal with the problems impeding their solidarity, but indicated that any possible summit needs thorough preparations in order to produce tangible results. Mubarak also hoped that stability could be restored to the Gulf area, which is an essential component for stability in the Arab region.

Foreign Minister Amr Moussa told reporters in Manama that President Mubarak's talks with the Bahrain Emir was very productive and that the two leaders thrashed out many issues of mutual interest.

He added that the talks covered the Middle East peace process, the necessity of restoring pan-Arab solidarity and the importance of enhancing the negotiating status of Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinian in their current talks with Israel.

Bahraini Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak al-Khalifa, said the positive atmosphere of the talks allowed the two leaders to discuss every single detail in relations and way of enhancing them.

He added that Mubarak and Hamad shared similar views regarding all other issues on the Arab scene.

Moussa told the joint press conferences that the issue of a possible Arab summit was the common denominator in President Mubarak's talks in the countries which he visited, adding that Egypt's position is that a summit must be well prepared.

He also asserted that Mubarak's talks dealt with the necessity of offering every possible assistance to Syria which started fresh negotiations with Israel in Washington last week.

Meanwhile, Presidential Political Advisor Osama Al-Baz told reporters in Doha that Egypt and Qatar had minor disagreements which were sorted out easily. "Egypt and Qatar share common views on many issues and the imperatives of the current state of affairs require us to rise above minor disagreements in order not to be distracted from more important issues," he said.

Previous Stories:
  Message from Mubarak to Bahrain's emir as Moussa starts Gulf tour   (11/30/1999)
  Egyptian diplomatic delegation to visit Bahrain, Qatar   (11/30/1999)
  Second session of Egyptian - Bahraini committee next month   (10/28/1999)

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