Egyptian president: Palestinian issue key to regional security

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said on Sunday that the Palestinian issue will remain the key to regional security and settlement of all other crises and issues in the Middle East.

Addressing at the ceremony to celebrate the Islamic Lailat al- Qadr (the Night of Decree), Mubarak reiterated his country's resolve to continue its efforts to revive peace talks and unify the Palestinians until achieving a "just and honorable peace that attains security for all (parties), ends occupation, puts the Middle East on a new track and establishes the independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital."

Egypt said on Sunday that it will host the second round of Israeli-Palestinian direct talks in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El- Sheikh on September 14 and 15 at the level of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attending.

The Israeli-Palestinian direct talks were officially launched on Thursday in Washington following a five-party summit which included U.S. President Barack Obama, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Abbas and Netanyahu.

Source: Xinhua