France / Egypt / French minister of foreign and European affairs on tour

 

 

CAIRO, Egypt, October 14, 2008/African Press Organization (APO)/ — French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Daily Press Briefing

 

 

On October 10 and 11, the minister of foreign and European affairs was in Egypt, where he was received by President Hosni Mubarak and met with his counterpart, Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

 

At these meetings, the main regional issues were reviewed. The minister discussed his recent trip to the Palestinian Territories and Israel. He took stock of the peace process with a view to the meeting between the Quartet and the parties, slated to be held in the region before the end of the year.

 

Lebanon was also discussed, in light of recent positive developments.

The minister reiterated France’s attempts to normalize the Syrian-Lebanese process. Bernard Kouchner recalled our hopes for stabilizing Iraq and hailed his Egyptian counterpart’s recent visit to Baghdad.

He reaffirmed the concerns of the E3+3 on the Iranian nuclear issue and underscored the need for Teheran to engage in the path of dialogue opened by the international community. The situation in Sudan was also discussed.

 

The minister’s trip to Cairo also came in the context of preparations for the Barcelona Process / Union for the Mediterranean ministerial conference, which Egypt is co-chairing with France. We agreed to continue our close cooperation in the coming weeks to ensure that this meeting is a complete success.

 

 

 

SOURCE : France – Ministry of Foreign Affairs