Mubarak, Assad review Middle East developments
Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on Sunday paid a one-day visit to Cairo. His talks with President Mubarak of Egypt dealt with the latest developments in the Arab region and the Arab and international contacts the two sides have made. They discussed the deadlocked Middle East peace process due to the government of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's non-commitment to the basis of the peace process.
In pre-departure statements to reporters before leaving Alexandria, the two presidents answered questions put to them by journalists. The leaders were asked a question on the role of the US in the Middle East peace process, bearing in mind its original involvement with the initiative and its virtual withdrawal from action, would the efforts to activate the European role restore the initiative back to life? President Mubarak said: "I do not want to say that the US has withdrawn from the peace process. Maybe the activating of the European role would help the US role in the peace process but would not replace it." Mubarak added that the activation of the European role comes in assistance and support for the US role, not as its alternative.
Replying to another question, President Mubarak said: "Our meetings with our brother President al-Assad are periodical. This does not indicate that we have been authorized by the Arab nation to make any decision. If there is anything about the Arab nation we will consult with them to probe the horizon for any new thing in the peace process."
The Syrian President was asked whether he had any reservations regarding the Egyptian-French initiative concerning an international conference to salvage peace. He answered: "They are under discussion." The Syrian President was also asked: " When will you carry out your expected visit to Lebanon? Will the visit be before or after the Lebanese presidential election?" Al-Assad said: "Between Lebanon and Syria there are no protocols or formal things, yet I will go to Lebanon."
Earlier in the day al-Assad arrived in Alexandria, Egypt, accompanied by Vice-President Abdul Halim Khaddam and Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa. The two presidents held a four-hour meeting behind closed doors at Ras al-teen Palace. It was joined later by officials representing the two sides.
In parallel with the closed-door meeting, members of the Syrian delegation and their Egyptian counterparts discussed matters that had arisen in the plenary meeting.