Maher: Egyptian-French cooperation necessary for Mideast peace

Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said on Tuesday President Hosni Mubarak's visit to France, that wound up on Monday, was a chance to reiterate that Egyptian-French cooperation necessary for achieving peace in the Mideast region.

Speaking to Cairo Radio, Maher said talks between Mubarak and French President Jacques Chirac showed an identity in viewpoints.

We are facing now many difficulties and complicated problems.

When the two leaders sit with each other, we find that they agree on the same picture that is really worrying but at the same time does not call for despair.

But this picture requires increasing efforts by Egypt and France for realising peace and justice, he added.

He stressed that if the Israeli government wants to achieve peace, it should honor its obligations.