Orabi stresses importance of Mubarak's visit to Germany

Germany, its people and government, look forward to the visit to pay to the German capital Berlin on Tuesday by President Hosni Mubarak, said Egypt's new ambassador to German Mohammad AL Orabi.

The ambassador added that the German leadership appreciates President Mubarak and respected him as a man of a prominent state with a far-sighted and strategic viewpoint.

He affirmed that Mubarak's visit to Germany and other European countries would contribute to formulating a new world order to fight terrorism.

In statements to Cairo Radio on Sunday, the ambassador said President Mubarak would start his activity in Germany by meeting president Johannes Rau who has a close relationship with the President.

President Mubarak will also meet with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in the presence of Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, he added.

On the German viewpoint in dealing with terrorism, the ambassador said that Germany shared Egypt's viewpoint on the importance of avoiding jumping to conclusions.

Regarding the Palestinian issue, Orabi said that Germany insisted on avoiding marginalisation of the Palestinian cause, pointing out to the recent visit to the United States by the German Foreign Minister and the statements he made during his meeting with President George. Bush on the importance of reviving Palestinian Israeli negotiations.

On harassing Arabs and Muslims in the United States, Orabi said that the harassment cases in Germany represented no general feeling, pointing out that the German chancellor had met with representatives of religions with the aim of reassuring Arabs and Muslims in Germany.