Moussa embarks on European tour
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa left Cairo Thursday for Italy, at the start of a European tour taking he also to France and Malta, to complete consultations with the European governments on situation in the region and Israel military operations against the Palestinians.
In pre-departure statements, Moussa said that his Europe tour was part of intensive consultations with Arab, European a American officials on conditions in the Middle East.
He told reporters that Arab-European relations would top the agenda of his talks in Europe. He added that he would during his visit to Italy he would attend a conference on Arab-Europe relations, organized by the Mediterranean Studies centre.
He said that Arab-European relations must not be confined to the political side but rather must deal with the economic a cultural aspect as well.
The Arab League chief said that he would address the Arab French chamber of commerce during his visit to France.
On Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's claims that Saudi Arabia sponsors terrorism, Moussa said that such accusations a part of an Israeli smear media campaign against some Arab states.
On efforts exerted to improve ties between Saudi Arabia and Iraq, the top Arab diplomat said that the league was working consolidate inter-Arab solidarity at all levels.
Meanwhile, Moussa received a message on Thursday from Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Prince Saoud Al-Faisal.
The message was delivered during a meeting he had earlier in the day with Faisal Trad, the Chief Saudi delegate to the Arab League. Moussa declined to disclose the content of the message.
