Mubarak confers with Eritrea envoy, Arafat, Australian FM

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday received a message from Eritrea's President Assyas Afworki on the tense situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

The message was delivered by Foreign Minister Haile Weldensae. In a statement following the meeting, Weldensae said that his country has accepted President Mubarak's initiative to settle the dispute between the two countries. He reiterated the Egyptian president's pledge to reach a cease-fire and a peaceful solution.

Meanwhile, Australia's FM expressed his country's desire to revive the Middle East peace process and for Israel to carry out reached agreements and obligations. He said that the whole international community feels frustrated towards the suspended Middle East peace process.

In a statement following his meeting with President Mubarak on Sunday, the Australian minister described his talks with the Egyptian President as fruitful, during which "means of giving the Middle East peace process a push forward were reviewed."

Later in the day, President Mubarak held a round of bilateral talks with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.