Middle East peace process high on Mubarak-Bush Agenda

In the context of preparations for his upcoming visit to the United States, President Mubarak yesterday presided over an expanded ministerial meeting at the Presidential Palace attended by Prime Minister Atef Ebeid, Minister of Defence Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, Minister of Economy Youssef Butros Ghali, Chief of the Presidential Palace Zakaria Azmi and Political Advisor to the President Osama AL Baz.

The meeting reviewed arrangements for the upcoming Egyptian US summit, issues to be tackled in talks which US officials, underway efforts for reactivating the peace process, the results of Amman summit, various developments in the region, fields of bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, joint investment, health and environment.

Emerging from the meeting Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said President Mubarak would rise before the US administration Egypt's visualization of the peace issue in the Middle East, indicating that talks with the US side would include the new US administration's visualization of many topics.

He said talks would make emphasis on the need for boosting relations in the fields of economy, trade and investment apart from coordination in the fields of education, health and environment.

Moussa said apart from discussing bilateral relations, President Mubarak will also review some political issues. The Foreign Minister said he would leave for the US to hold an initial meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell for discussing topics to be addressed by the two leaders.

Answering a question on the framework of cooperation in the upcoming stage in the light of the new US administration, Moussa said the two sides would discuss the various aspects of relations and means of maintaining coordination between Egypt and the United States in the upcoming stage.

He said that during the visit, a new framework will be found for Mubarak-Al-Gore initiative so that it may cover the various aspects of relations.

On the strategic alliance between Egypt and the United States, Minister Moussa said we are not speaking about strategic alliance but rather about a strategic dialogue.

He said the two sides would discuss prospects for signing a free trade agreement adding that the two sides would exchange views on many topics.