Mubarak, Schroeder hold talks in Cairo
Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak held talks with visiting German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder at the presidential headquarters on Saturday.
The talks were attended by Prime Minister Atef Ebeid and the Head of External Relations Department at the German Chancellery.
Ebeid and German Ambassador in Cairo Paul Von Maltzehn were on hand to welcome the German Chancellor who arrived earlier in the day on a two-day visit to Egypt for talks with President Hosni Mubarak on the latest developments in the peace process and bilateral cooperation.
He will confer with Ebeid and Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdel Meguid.
During his visit to Egypt, Schroeder will also lay the foundation stone of the Arab-German Chamber of Commerce in Cairo and meet with members of the Chamber.
Following their meeting, President Hosni Mubarak and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder delivered two short speeches before journalists on what the two leaders discussed.
In his word, Mubarak said he discussed with Schroeder a wide range of issues, foremost the tense situation in the Middle East, with the escalating violence between the Palestinians and Israelis.
Noting that the two heads of state tackled other issues, President Mubarak pointed out to considerable agreement on all bilateral issues.
Cooperation with Germany is moving on the right track, Mubarak said, adding that the Prime Minister would discuss on Sunday other issues of common interest.
Considering Schroeder's current visit a rather short one, President Mubarak extended to the German leader an invitation to come on a longer visit.
On his part, German Chancellor Gerhard Shroeder thanked Mubarak for the warm welcome.
Shroeder said his choice of Cairo as the first leg on his Mideast tour was not accidental, noting that the Egyptian and German peoples were connected by good and strong historical ties.
He expressed his admiration for the great role played by Mubarak at both Sharm El Sheikh conference and the emergency Arab summit, saying the President's achievements at the two gatherings were "historic".
The German Chancellor noted that he started his Mideast tour with Cairo because it was the axis of the peace process, and because Mubarak was the most important figure participaring in the process.
Germany and Euorpe are greatly interested in that the peace process never stops, and that violence ends so that no more victims will fall, said Schroeder.
He expressed his confidence that Mubarak would continue to play an important role in the peace process in the future.
The German Chancellor said Egyptian-German relations are very good. He, however, added that a number of issues would be tackled on Sunday and that he was sure that a solution satisfactory to all parties would be reached.