Mubarak speaks on Egypt becoming a full member in the Arab-Maghreb union

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak speaking on Egypt becoming a full member in the Arab-Maghreb Union (AMU) said this group is important. "Egypt is an observer in the AMU at present and is ready to become a full member if the member-states so agree."

He accentuated the importance of work for deepening and boosting economic cooperation, especially that this group directly faces the EU north of the Mediterranean sea, the President added. "We are living in the globe of economy and our efforts should go towards furthering economic cooperation," the President remarked. He pointed to the Egyptian interest in furthering economic cooperation with Africa in addition to inter-Arab cooperation, through bilateral, collective or multilateral levels in a bid to establish the Arab common market.

This was said at the Organization of African Unity summit in Algiers.