Tunisian president: I am not assured till Israel implements Sharm El-Sheikh accord

Tunisian President Zein al-Abidin Ben Ali said he will visit Egypt in the last week of November and that he is looking forward to the summit meeting that will bring him together with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during this visit.

In a statement to the Egyptian newspaper El-Ahram today, Ben Ali said his country never objected to Egypt's desire to join the Arab Maghreb Union, which includes Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, and Morocco.

He added, "What was repeated regarding Tunis' reservations toward Egypt's membership is considered a big mistake, yet we will be honored with Egypt's membership in the union."

Regarding the peace process in the Middle East, Ben Ali said, "Pushing this track is limited to the fulfillment of all parts of the commitments they undertook since the peace process' commencement."

He added that he will not feel assured toward the success of the peace psocess until after implementation of the agreement reached in Sharm El-Sheikh between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

He said he thinks that one of the requirements of a just resolution in the Middle East is boosting the chance of resuming the negotiations on the rest tracks will will enable Syria and Lebanon to regain their lands.

Regarding convening an Arab summit, Ben Ali said "We always welcome in Tunis every meeting that gathers the Arab kings, heads of state and brothers to give them a chance to the collective study for positions of the joint Arab work and the risks threatening the Arab nation."