Maher calls in Washington for the prompt implementation of Mitchell's report

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said that his meetings in Washington with the American administration focused on expounding the Egyptian stance as regards implementation of the political aspects of the Mitchell report.

In an exclusive interview with Cairo Radio broadcast Saturday morning, Maher said that U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's coming visit to the area must concentrate on the requirements previously reached by the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

He said that president Hosni Mubarak and U.S. President George W. Bush were in contact to discuss the latest developments in the area.

He added that his contacts in Washington include meetings with Powell, Vice-President Dick Cheney and National Security Advisor Condeleezza Rice as well as a number of Congressmen.

He said that he has also given some press interviews with the aim of expounding the Egyptian stance calling for the prompt implementation of the political aspects of the Mitchell commission proposals.

Queried about his talks with Powell, he said they covered the Sudanese issue. Powell underlined that America does not support partitioning of Sudan, he added.

As regards propaganda against Egypt, he said that such campaigns are carried out by some quarters that aim at marring the Egyptian-American relations.

He added that Egypt was neither frightened nor provoked or shaken by such propaganda or articles, which are rejected by most of the American people and officials.