Al-Gomhuria: Egyptian foreign policy favors Arab, African ties

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit granted an Interview to Al-Gomhuria newspaper in which he responded to several questions including Iraq, Palestine, Nile Basin...etc.

Abul Gheit expounded that Egyptian foreign policies are based on five main pillars, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, Egyptian interests in cooperation with Nile Basin members and cooperation with Euro-Med states.

Two other pillars are beefing up cooperation with international powers topped by US, Japan, China and Russia. Finally, cooperation with the UN, an emblem for international legitimacy in Egypt's foreign policy.

Commenting on Palestine and Iraq, the Minister said that there was a need for unifying Palestinian national action to select a leadership for the Palestinian government within the frame work of Fatah movement, as the backbone of Palestinian resistance.

Palestinians have to work with Israel and the world's uni-pole power i.e. the US as well as the remaining members of the Quartet committee.

As for Iraq, Abul Gheit said that Sharrn El-Sheikh conference was a good chance for unifying Iraqis and helping the Iraqi people retain control of their country.

Responding to a question on Nile Basin states, he said that Egypt was busy during confrontation with Israel between 1967-1977 but later it revived interest in the Nile Basin as a matter of life or death.

President Hosni Mubarark and former Foreign Minister Boutros Ghali toured a number of Nile Basin countries ever since to strengthen ties and cooperation.

He highlighted that his first foreign tour took him to Sudan and Kenya in July 2004.