Maher contacts several Arab opposite numbers on hot issues

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher telephoned Friday the Foreign Ministers of Morocco, Tunisia, Syria, and Saudi Arabia to coordinate stances vis-a-vis different issues. Conversations dealt with the outcome of the recent tour of the region by US Secretary Colin Powell and the new Israeli threats against Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

The phone calls also dealt with arrangements for the upcoming Valencia conference on Euro-Mediterranean cooperation to be held on April 22-23 within the Barcelona process.