Consultations for Mubarak-Chirac summit

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said that consultations are underway for a summit between President Hosni Mubarak and French President Jacques Chirac to exchange views on the current situation in the Middle East with the aim of rescuing the peace process as Egypt and France play vital role in the region.

Meanwhile, Maher pointed out that Egypt and France agrees on the necessity of speedy dispatch of international observers to the Palestinian territories.

In interview granted Thursday to French Journalists Club , Maher underlined that Egypt doesn't want war but seeks peace and pushes parties toward it. Maher then repeated what President Mubarak has already said that 1967 will never recur.

Asked about the talk of war in Israel, Maher expressed hope that Israel would stop threats and war statements made by its leaders.

On the return of Egyptian ambassador to Israel, Maher said that there will be no Egyptian ambassador in Tel Aviv till the situation changes and it carries out UN resolutions and Madrid Conference terms of reference.

On the Egyptian-Syrian relations, Maher said that relations between the two states are excellent and that Mubarak and al-Assad have constant consultations.