Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Egyptian counterpart, Hosni Mubarak, agreed Tuesday on the need to cooperate with the international community to fight against terrorism following the devastating attacks on the United States.
The two leaders described terrorism as a "global phenomenon" and as "organized crime" that menaces international security and stability, Egyptian Information Minister Safwat Al Sherif said, cited by AFP.
Assad arrived in Egypt earlier Tuesday evening following visits to Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
His visit to Saudi Arabia had not been planned before, said reports.
During his stay in Jeddah, he held talks with King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdelaziz on ways to combat terrorism and find a unified Arab stand to face the phenomena, said the Kuwaiti news agency (KUNA).
Mubarak and Assad first met privately before being joined by their respective foreign ministers, Ahmed Maher and Farouq Al lShara, for a working dinner.
Assad's visit to Egypt, coinciding with a cease-fire in the year-old conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, had initially been planned for Wednesday but was brought forward.
He and Mubarak called on Israel to "respond to the appeal by the international community to halt military operations and aggressions against the Palestinian people," Sharif said.
Earlier, Israel announced that it was suspending any offensive actions against the Palestinians, while retaining the right to self-defense, and began pulling out of Palestinian-controlled areas it has recently reoccupied.
The two Arab leaders also called on Israel to "take the necessary steps to reach a just peace and permanent security and stability in the region."
Mubarak already met in Sharm El Sheikh Tuesday with King Abdullah II of Jordan, as part of efforts to coordinate the Arab stand after the United States declared war on terrorism.
Al Ahram newspaper said that both leaders discussed the latest developments in the region in the wake of Tuesday’s attacks on the US.
They also reviewed bilateral ties and issues of common concern, it said.
Meanwhile, Palestinian officials in Gaza City told AFP Palestinian President Yasser Arafat would travel to Egypt on Wednesday to meet with Mubarak.
The Palestinian news agency, WAFA, reported that Arafat and Mubarak discussed several issues in a telephone conversation.
Arafat is then to travel on to Jordan and Saudi Arabia, possibly also adding Syria and the United Arab Emirates to his itinerary, they said, without giving any timetables.
Since Sunday, Egypt has stepped up diplomatic contacts to coordinate Arab positions in the wake of the terror attacks on Washington and New York – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
