Mubarak in Emirates to discuss improving Arab states relations

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will arrive today in the United Arab Emirates for a three-day visit, during which he will hold talks with UAE President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al-Nahyan addressing bilateral relations and means of developing them, the situations in the Gulf and Iraq, and developments in the Middle East peace process.

A bilateral meeting is to be held between the two leaders tomorrow morning that includes delegations from the two sides.

Egypt's ambassador to the UAE, Mohammed Abd El-Monem El-Shazeli, said Mubarak's visit has great importance at this stage in which the international arena in general and the Arab arena in particular are witnessing numerous developments that require constant Arab coordination.

An official source added, "There is an Egyptian - Emirates agreement on the necessity of filtering the Arab atmospheres, especially among Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait," calling on Iraq to release its Kuwaiti and Saudi captives.

The source said Mubarak and Sheikh Zayed want to lift the sanctions from Iraq before other countries seek to.