Mubarak meets German president

President Hosni Mubarak yesterday received German President Johannes Rau who arrived in Cairo on a five-day official visit.

The two leaders held a session of talks dealing with the situation in the Middle East in the light of the faltering of negotiations and the latest escalation in Lebanon. The meeting tackled the contacts Egypt makes with the all parties concerned for reactivating negotiations on the Palestinian and Syrian tracks.

German Ambassador to Egypt Peter Dingens said talks between Presidents Mubarak and Rau would touch on the outcome of President Rau's visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, bilateral relations and Egypt's hosting by Egypt of the Afro-European summit which will be attended by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder next April.

The German President is accompanied by his spouse, and a delegation of German businessmen comprising representatives of big German companies.

The two sides are expected to sign an agreement to establish a forum for Egyptian-German businessmen with the aim of enhancing bilateral relations and establishing joint ventures.

The German President is expected to lay a wreath on the unknown soldier memorial and to visit the German school in Cairo.

He will visit the Egyptian museum and will have a meeting with Dr. Esmat Abdel Meguid, Secretary-General of the Arab league.

He will meet tomorrow with Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Dr. Mohamed Sayed Tantawi and Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria. He will also visit St. Catherine Monastery in Sinai, and Aswan.