Communications continue to hold an Arab summit

Osama El-Baz, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's political advisor, confirmed that there are current consultations and communications between Arab leaders in order to hold an Arab summit.

In press statements, El-Baz said that these communications will tackle all matters aimed at holding a summit for crystallizing an Arab position and creating an accord for the benefit of Arab states at this stage, as well as specifying the summit's level and agenda.

He added that the crisis in the Middle East peace process will be the main issue at the top of this summit's agenda, but this doesn't prevent the raising of other subjects. He said that everybody has to know the political situation in all its facets, and there must be a common perception of the reason of this summit.

Concerning the issue that the United States is hinting at leaving the peace process altogether, El-Baz expressed his belief that this hint comes within the pressure placed upon the Israeli government, pointing out that the U.S. cannot abandon the peace process unless it announces who is responsible for the current situation. Then he stated that the U.S. has an international responsibility as the peace process sponsor, and what is currently required is to announce the outcome of its efforts since last August.