Arafat-Bush meeting important

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher underlined on Thursday the importance of holding a meeting between US President George W. Bush and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

He did not rule out Arab efforts to arrange for a meeting between the two presidents.

In an interview with Abu Dhabi satellite TV channel, Maher said : "We believe it is important for the US efforts in the region to hold such a meeting."

About the Arab endeavours to motivate the US to re-activate its Mideast role, he said there is an Egyptian move in coordination with the rest of Arab countries in this respect, besides President Hosni Mubarak's ongoing contacts with the Arab leaders.

"There will be of course bilateral and trilateral meetings, but this will have no impact on the collective Arab moves," he added.