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Mubarak Meets Italian FM over Anti-terror, Bilateral Issues
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Thursday morning met with Italian Foreign Minister Renato Ruggiero to discuss the issues of fighting terrorism and enhancing bilateral ties, reported the state-run MENA news agency.
Ruggiero's visit to Egypt was aimed at "exchanging views on the international developments, especially pertaining to combatting terrorism, the situation in the Middle East and bilateral relations," said MENA.
Ruggiero's visit will "help wash away the effect of statements by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on the superiority of the western civilization over the Islamic one," the report said.
Ruggiero, who arrived here late Wednesday, is also expected to hold talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher on Thursday.
Egypt and other Islamic countries were outraged last month by remarks of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on the superiority of Western civilization over Islam.
Following the U.S. terror attacks on September 11, Berlusconi said "that Islam is a religion that does not respect human rights, pluralism, tolerance and freedom of religion," adding that the Western civilization is superior to Islam.
As a response, Egypt asked an explanation from the Italian government about Berlusconi's statement and the Cairo-based Arab League demanded an apology for the "racist" remarks.
While insisting that he had been misunderstood, Berlusconi said that he was sorry if he offended Arabs and Muslims.
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