Mubarak's European tour will further improve relations with Egypt, writes Doaa El-Bey President Hosni Mubarak's trip to Ireland, France and Germany had two main aims: to boost European-Egyptian relations and to find ways of resolving pressing issues in the Middle East. It paved the way for more economic cooperation with the three states. Egyptian-German and Egyptian-French economic ties have always been strong "however, this visit focused on how Germany and France can participate in future major projects in Egypt, especially in nuclear programmes," said Hassan Abu Taleb of the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies. The visit also opened channels of cooperation with Ireland. Egypt and Ireland focused on boosting the developmental role Ireland can play in information and service technology. "In addition to promoting Irish-Egyptian relations, it aimed to attract Irish investors to the potential of investment in Egypt," Abu Taleb added. However, he noted that any such project would involve time and hard work by both sides. On the political level, the European leaders and Egypt reiterated their commitment to help secure stability in Iraq and Lebanon and boost the peace process, but did not outline a plan to resolve any pending issues. On the last leg of his five-day tour which ended Sunday, Mubarak and German Chancellor Angela Merkel underlined their commitment to easing the violence in Iraq and Lebanon and promoting the peace process. Merkel announced that Berlin might step up efforts to train Iraqi soldiers, however, she stressed that "no concrete proposals" had been reached, though she did not rule out such a step in the future. Berlin opposed the 2003 war and refused to deploy its own troops in Iraq, but has since helped train Iraq's new police and army forces in the United Arab Emirates and agreed to write off its debt. At the end of her meeting with Mubarak, Merkel said Germany "also has an interest in the rebuilding of Iraq as it moves forward and in violence diminishing." Commenting on the Baker-Hamilton report, Merkel said it provided a "realistic description of the situation" but stressed it was up to the US government to decide what aspects would be implemented. The report has advocated allowing Syria and Iran to play a more active role in resolving the problems of the region. In an attempt to include Syria in helping solve the region's problems, Merkel called on Syria to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon and support the peace process. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Damascus last week to press Syria to use its influence when dealing with Hizbullah's demands. Merkel and Mubarak agreed to support the existence of a sovereign and stable Lebanon. They also agreed on the need for a more active role to be played by the Quartet to end the escalation of violence and promote a Palestinian- Israeli peace. The Quartet, made up of the US, EU, Russia and the UN, launched the roadmap in 2003 but it has yet to be implemented on the ground. Merkel stressed the need for "a Palestinian state in which the Palestinians can sensibly develop economically and culturally," adding there would be no prospect of peace in the region unless Israel's right to exist was recognised by all. Shortly before the start of its EU presidential term, Germany seems to be exerting efforts to revive the Quartet's role. Merkel and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday discussed the peace process and stability in the region. Steinmeier, who met US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington last week, said the US government was showing more resolve in settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Steinmeier plans a similar trip to Moscow before the end of the year. A day before Mubarak's visit, Merkel said Germany plans to push the peace process forward during its EU and G-8 presidency. Berlin will take over the presidency of the European Union and Group of Eight on 1 January. Tension in the region topped the agenda of Mubarak's meeting with French President Jacques Chirac in Paris. Both presidents expressed their concern and fears of the consequences of Lebanese opposition protests, and called for negotiations between the government and the opposition to settle differences. Mubarak was in the French capital to inaugurate a major exhibition of Ancient Egyptian artifacts. The show, "Egypt's Sunken Treasures", drew almost half a million visitors in Berlin earlier this year. It opened to the public in France on Saturday and will run until 16 March. Chirac-Mubarak's meeting coincided with the arrival in France of eight Frenchmen along with two Belgians expelled from Egypt. Late last month, Egyptian authorities arrested the suspects as well as an American and an unknown number of Egyptians and other Arabs. The suspects were living in Egypt allegedly under the guise of studying Arabic and Islamic studies and had formed a militant cell that was plotting attacks, Egyptian officials said. Upon their arrival early Friday morning, the anti-terrorist division of the Paris police immediately took the men into custody for questioning. In Ireland, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and Mubarak underlined the urgent need to revive the stalled Middle East peace process, after talks in Dublin, the first leg on the tour. They emphasised "the need for urgent... efforts to revive a credible peace process, with a negotiated two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict at its centre." Ahern added he would use an EU summit to be held today and tomorrow to focus on his conviction that the EU must continue to use its influence to revive the prospect of a comprehensive settlement in the region. In the first visit to the country by an Egyptian head of state, Mubarak also met Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern and President Mary McAleese. Mubarak's tour is part of Egypt's strategy to diversify its relations. "Egypt has always been keen to continually improve its relationship with Europe. It has recently tried to boost ties with nations in Asia, including China and India, and establish good relations with other countries like Russia," Abu Taleb said. He believed Egyptian-European relations will witness further improvement in the future. Perhaps the European proposal to grant Egypt EU membership status without being a member is evidence of the importance of the relationship.
