Timely visit for peace process
President Mubarak tomorrow starts a visit to the United States during which he would meet senior US officials for discussing the latest developments of the Mideast peace process,bilateral relations, and cooperation in the industry of information and technology.
Preparations have been made in Washington for welcoming the President. Though President Clinton, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and a number of Congressmen are making a tour of Asia, US Administration departments are witnessing intensive meetings in preparation for the President's talks with US officials.
US sources said these preparations reflect the significance attached by Americans to President Mubarak's role for pushing forward the peace process on the various tracks and maintaining stability in the Middle East, as well as his efforts to defuse regional crises.
Preparations also reflect US appreciation of the Egyptian economic reform program, the Egyptian willingness to merge into the world economy and opening to the US market.
Presidents Mubarak and Clinton will hold their summit meeting next Tuesday. However, the President will start his activities in the US capital Sunday with a meeting with representatives of the Egyptian community in the United States.
On Monday, President Mubarak will visit the Association of US companies working in the field of information technology. Then a session would be held for exchange of views among Egyptian and US specialists.
On Tuesday, President Clinton will brief President Mubarak on the results of his talks in Geneva with Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad. The two leaders would consider prospects for acting together for achieving peace.
The Egyptian-US summit talks will tackle regional problems , the situation in Africa, and Iraq out of Egypt's belief that it is time for lifting sanctions imposed on Iraq.
Presidents Mubarak and Clinton will address bilateral cooperation between Egypt and the United States in the economic, military, education, health and social fields in general.
On Wednesday, President Mubarak will meet with a number of US President aides mainly Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Defense Secretary William Cohen, Secretary of Commerce William Daley and National Security Advisor Sandy Berger. The President will meet a large number of Congress members mainly in the Foreign Affairs and Relations Committees.