Arafat's Upcoming Visit to Egypt Has Important Significance: DiplomatThe projected meeting on Monday between Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has important significance for the Middle East peace process, the Palestinian ambassador in Cairo said on Sunday.Zohdi Qedra told Egypt's Middle East News Agency that Arafat is keen on continuing consultations with Mubarak and get his advice on the peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis. Arafat is reportedly to visit Egypt on Monday as part of his continued coordination and consultations with Mubarak. He is to brief Mubarak on his recent visits to three European states and nine Asian countries in a bid to rally support for the Palestinian positions on the peace process, Qedra said. The two leaders will exchange views on the latest developments of the peace talks and discuss the present situation in light of the Israeli intransigence and failure to honor the international legitimacy resolutions, he added. The Palestinian leadership and people appreciate the role played by Mubarak as "a real and main sponsor of the Mideast peace process in the region," the Palestinian diplomat stressed. Arafat frequently visits Egypt to discuss the Mideast peace process with Mubarak, who as the leader of the first Arab country to make peace with Israel is a key mediator in the Arab-Israeli peace negotiations. Arafat's visit on Monday will be his fourth to Egypt since July 25 when the Palestinian-Israeli summit at Camp David in the United States ended without an agreement largely due to disputes over Jerusalem, which both sides claim as their capital. |
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