PARIS - Egypt and France have agreed to work together to avoid an emerging diplomatic confrontation in the forthcoming UN General Assembly over a potentially divisive demand for UN recognition of Palestinian statehood later this month, it was revealed on Friday. Officials indicated that French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe met late Thursday night with his Egyptian counterpart Mohamed Kamal Amr on the sidelines of the "Friends of Libya" conference to discuss the Middle East peace process, Libyan reconstruction and transition and G8 issues relative to Egypt. "The two minister reviewed the situation in Libya just after the Elysee Summit and they broached the importance of Egypt in the stabilisation" of Libya, the French Foreign Ministry said. "They also discussed the peace process and agreed to work together to avoid a diplomatic confrontation in New York on this question," the ministry added. France has so far not clearly indicated it will support the Palestinian demand, but is thought to be leaning in favour, along with Britain and Spain. But other European Union nations, particularly heavyweight Germany, are said to be opposed and support the US and Israel in seeking to block the Palestinian initiative. Juppe and Amr also discussed G8 proposals to accord financing to Egypt during its transition period and they will meet in the framework of the G8 in the near future to continue these talks. The Egyptian's visit to Paris was the first by a Foreign Minister since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak.
