Egyptian foreign minister approves of visit by Spanish prime minister

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said he appr%!%ed the visit to Egypt of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who arrived in Egypt on June 24, heading a large delegation of officials and businessmen. Moussa said that there are continued communications between the two countries on all economic, political and cultural levels.

In press statements, Moussa added that the discussions that will be held between President Mubarak and the Spanish official will relate to have positive steps in Egyptian - Spanish relations and toward the Middle East peace process.

Moussa also said that Spain is close to Egypt and there are strong joint relations and interests between them, both in the bilateral and the Mediterranean frame, known as the Euro - Mediterranean partnership, in addition to the Barcelona process, pointing out that the peace process in the Middle East began first in the Spanish capital, Madrid.

He said that Egypt is concerned with methods of developing economic relations with Spain in the fields of trade and investment as well as in other aspects of economic cooperation.