LOC17:49
14:49 GMT
CAIRO, June 23 (KUNA) -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his Russian
counterpart Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday that they have identical views on
almost all issues of common concern, notably the Middle East question.
Speaking to reporters after the summit talks with his host, Medvedev, who
started a visit to Egypt on Tuesday, said the talks dealt with various
regional and international issues including the Middle East conflict and
Iran's nuclear program, as well as African issues.
He appreciated Mubarak's efforts to build confidence among the different
parties in the Middle East, renewing Russia's commitment to host a Middle East
peace conference before the end of 2009.
"We pay special attention to Middle East issues," Medvedev said, adding, "We
highly appreciate efforts by the Egyptian president to create an atmosphere of
trust and cooperation in the region."
"We plan to hold the (proposed) Middle East conference (in Moscow) before
the end of the year ... We hope the conference will also contribute to
achieving this goal (confidence building)," he added.
Medvedev hailed as "friendly" the tune and atmosphere of the summit talks,
saying that the talks touched on the current global financial crisis and
suggests reforms to the international financial system.
Regarding the bilateral ties, he said he and President Mubarak have inked
strategic partnership agreement that outlined the long-term targets of
cooperation between Russia and Egypt.
The bilateral trade volume between the two countries has hit USD 4.5
billion in 2008, or five times the figures of few years ago, the Russian
leader noted.
He highlighted the huge potentials of mutual investments and economic
cooperation between the two sides especially in the domains of energy, nuclear
energy, communications and satellite communications, hi-tech industries,
environment, and astronomy.
Russia can work effectively with Egypt to protect environment and combat
the illicit narcotic trade as well as oil and gas explorations, Medvedev went
on to say.
Mubarak, on his part, reaffirmed Egypt's backing for Russia's bid to hold a
Middle East peace conference and for any international efforts aiming to
achieve just, permanent and comprehensive peace in the region.
"The Russian Federation plays an essential role within and outside the
international Quartet on the Middle East," the Egyptian leader pointed out.
"Today's expanded talks, which have been held behind closed doors, focused
on the peace process in the region as well other regional and international
issues of common concern such as the food and energy security, the ways to
reform the international financial, economic and trade systems," he disclosed.
"The Egyptian-Russian consultations will be resumed on the sidelines of the
G-8 summit, due in Rome next month," Mubarak added. (end)
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