Magda El-Ghitany reviews President Mubarak's agenda during this week's visits to Italy and Germany President Hosni Mubarak met outgoing Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi in Rome on Tuesday during the first leg of a two-stop European tour that also takes in Germany. Mubarak was also the first leader to meet Italy's new centre left prime minister, Romano Prodi. The meetings will follow up on issues first raised last March when Mubarak visited Rome, the Vatican, Berlin and Vienna. "[Mubarak] continued his discussions with Italian leaders on bilateral issues that were initiated last March," Egypt's Ambassador to Italy Ashraf Rashed told Al-Ahram Weekly in a telephone interview. A joint agreement increasing Egyptian employment opportunities in Italy to 7,000, and ways to increase Egyptian agricultural exports to Italy and the European Union through the Egyptian-Italian green corridor agreement, which helps Egypt develop the quality of agricultural goods, were both on the agenda, said Rashed. One senior diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the possible timing for the withdrawal of Italian troops was also broached, a sensitive issue following the death of several Italian nationals in Iraq. "The current situation in Iraq, and the role Egypt plays, was certainly discussed," said Rashed. Mohamed El-Orabi, Egypt's ambassador to Germany, told the Weekly that Mubarak was also expected to tackle the Iranian nuclear file, in addition to Iraq, in his meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "Both Egypt and Germany agree on the importance of preventing any military operation against Iran," said El-Orabi. Last March, according to presidential spokesman Suleiman Awad, Mubarak "succeeded in convincing the Europeans that dialogue [and other non-military tools] should be pursued," as far as the Iranian issue is concerned. Germany, El-Orabi noted, is keen to listen to "Mubarak's views on key security issues in the region", and considers Egypt a "much-valued regional player". In July Germany assumes the rotating presidency of the European Union. Developments in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict following the election of a new government in Tel Aviv and Western moves to freeze funding to Hamas-led Palestine were also major topics of discussion. Both Rashed and El-Orabi stressed that Mubarak had tackled ways to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in both Italy and Germany, discussing with both leaders French proposals to establish a temporary international fund to support the Palestinian people. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul- Gheit was expected to update Mubarak on the results of Tuesday's Quartet in New York that, at the request of the UN secretary-general was attended by representatives from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordon in addition to the US, Russia, the EU and the UN. Before travelling to New York, Abul-Gheit had said in a press conference that, "the roadmap must now be modified and a new timetable set... The Palestinians need to create a clear action plan that clarifies the Palestinian Authority's position regarding the principles set by the Quartet". In addition to the Palestinian file, Mubarak also discussed counter-terrorism measures, on the regional and international level, with European leaders. Following his European tour, Mubarak is scheduled to lead a delegation to Morocco where the sixth Egyptian-Moroccan highest joint commission will convene.
