Mubarak's talks in Bahrain to cover arrangements for next Arab summit

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak's talks with King Hamad Bin Issa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa of Bahrain Wednesday will dwell on arrangements for the next Arab summit in Algeria and benefiting from Bahrain's successful management of the previous Arab summit, sources accompanying the Egyptian leader during his current Gulf tour told MENA.

They said that Mubarak will speak with King Hamad about the upcoming December 20 Gulf summit in Manama during which Bahrain will be handed over the rotatory chairmanship of the Gulf Cooperation Council from Kuwait.

They also said that Mubarak will express to the Bahraini monarch his confidence in Bahrain's success to run the GCC affairs during its stint, especially that Mubarak has always regarded the GCC as a model example of a successful regional integration.

According to the sources, the Egyptian and Bahraini leaders will discuss during their talks arrangements for the Arab and G-8 foreign ministers' meeting that is to be held in Egypt early next year to discuss economic development and comprehensive reforms in the Arab world.

Talks are also to tackle the latest Palestinian developments, the situation in Iraq, Sudan and Somalia and many other issues of mutual interest, on top of which means to enhance bilateral ties, they said.