Egypt seeks to hold comprehensive Arab summit

The Egyptian president's political advisor, Osama El-Baz, said that in the current situation there are important concerns around convening an Arab summit conference beyond the place and date to hold it, to make sure that the conference will be coordinated with other international efforts.

El-Baz stated Egypt's wish that such a summit conference would achieve greatest amount of advantage for the Arab position toward the peace process and for Arab strategic benefit.

Concerning the current priorities and whether to pursue the Arab summit, the Egyptian - French initiative or the US initiative, El-Baz said it is not a matter of priorities but rather the situation and date for each event. He said, "We are currently in the stage in which the situation is crystallized, and the Israeli - Palestinian communications are being evaluated, which will be announced by the Palestinian side when they will decide on the status of these communications, and when they inform the US administration and raise up the matter to the Arab leaders later on."

El-Baz stated that Egypt cooperates with all international parties to achieve an accurate implementation of the agreements already signed by activating the negotiations along other tracks (Syria-Lebanon-Israel).