Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak warned on Tuesday that if resolving the Middle East crisis was not given higher priority, terrorism could spiral out of control.
If the Middle East crisis is not adequately addressed, "terrorism will increasingly become a more serious problem for the whole world, and not just the Middle East," Mubarak said after a series of talks in the Italian capital, said reports.
"At the moment, the most urgent and serious problem is that of the Middle East, and how to rescue peace in that part of the world," Mubarak said, cited by AFP.
Mubarak had lunch with Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, then had a one-hour talk with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
He left the Italian capital at 5:00pm (1500 GMT) from the military airport of Rome-Ciampino, Rome Telenews reported.
Mubark also delivered similar remarks at a press conference following his meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Berlin.
He said that that finding a solution in the Middle East was the only way the United States would be successful in its "war on terrorism."
"It's the one conflict that breeds and propagates terrorism. Without a solution to the Palestinian question, which can only be brought about by a serious and forceful effort from the United States and the European Union, the world will never enjoy stability and a new generation of terrorists will emerge," the Egyptian leader said.
Schroeder, standing next to Mubarak, told reporters that he too agreed that the Arab-Israeli conflict was one cause of terrorism, the Associated Press and AFP quoted him as saying.
"We've agreed that one major issue in combating international terrorism is the question of peace in the Middle East and that is why everyone concerned must put pressure on whoever can contribute to a solution of that conflict," Schroeder said.
Mubarak was in Germany as part of a whistle-stop European tour, which began Monday in France. The German and Egyptian leaders held about an hour of talks before Mubarak flew to Rome.
"The Middle East and what is happening with the Palestinian situation is set to increase terror," Mubarak said – Albawaba.com
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