Cairo did not offer hosting Arafat-Peres meeting

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Tuesday expressed astonishment at reports released by the Israeli government under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon about excluding Egypt as a venue for the projected meeting between Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres.

President Mubarak, in statements to Middle East News Agency's Chief Editor, explained that Egypt did not seek to host the anticipated meeting nor did it express any desire to have the meeting on its lands.

President Mubarak wondered how could Sharon's government involve the name of Egypt in such an issue without any basis.

"The Palestinians have expressed a wish to have the meeting in Egypt and asked that we convey this desire to the Israeli side," he said. Egypt's attitude was clear as it (Egypt) rejected contacting the Israeli side in this regard.

"Egypt believes that the Palestinians and Israelis should both choose the proper venue for their meeting, " the President noted.

Wondering about what had been reported, the President said, "we neither asked nor hinted to anyone to have the meeting in Egypt, but such reports are mere illusions and a new pretext for procrastination and resuming the path of aggression while rejecting to realize stability in the region."