Maher meets Italian speaker, Belgian ambassador
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher met on Thursday with Speaker of the Italian House of Representatives Pierre Ferdinando Cassini, now on a visit to Egypt at the invitation of People's Assembly Speaker Ahmed Fathi Sorour.
Speaking to the press Cassini lauded the effective and leading role played by President Hosni Mubarak in the Middle East peace question. Cassini said the meeting with Maher took up issues of mutual concern, foremost among which the latest developments in the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and the Egyptian-Italian relations which he described as "excellent".
Cassini went on to say that celebrations are to be held in 2003 to mark the Egyptian-Italian cultural year. The Italian deputy foreign minister is now on a visit to Egypt to set the stage for this occasion, he added.
Italy represents a bridge between Europe and the Mideast and it could not play this role without close cooperation with Egypt.
Asked on the possibility of holding a meeting between Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres in Italy, Cassini said the problem is not where this meeting is to be convened but rather the issues that would be raised during it.
Moreover, Cassini conferred with People's Assembly Speaker Ahmed Fathi Sorour on the latest developments in the Mideast region.
In statements on Thursday before departure, Cassini stressed the necessity that the European Union should play a more effective role in settling the Palestinian issue.
He called on the US to find an outlet for the current Palestinian-Israeli crisis.
The Italian top lawmaker as well conferred with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa.
The Italian parliamentarian held talks with Culture Minister Farouk Hosni with the aim of boosting Egyptian-Italian cultural relations.
Sorour was on hand at the airport to see off the Italian speaker.
On hand, Maher received on Thursday Belgian ambassador in Cairo Paul Ponjaert, whose country is holding rotating presidency of the European Union (EU).
Emerging from the meeting, Ponjaert told reporters that it dealt with the developments of the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR), now in session in Durban, South Africa, especially the final communique that will be issued at the end of gathering.
Maher called on the Belgian presidency to exert utmost efforts within the context of the amendments and proposals being discussed at the conference, the ambassador said.
Asked on a possible walkout by the European countries from Durban conference, Ponjaert said he has no idea regarding this issue and Belgium in its capacity as EU president continues participation in the WCAR till its end.
He added that Belgium will make its utmost so as conferees come up with an acceptable final communique.