France and Egypt Propose Mediterranean Summit

Paris, Aug 3. -On the way to Washington, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak made a stopover in Paris to talk with his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, and the two proposed a Mediterranean summit in November.

The idea of the meeting between members of the still-fragile Union for the Mediterranean is projected as additional support for peace negotiations in the Middle East and the prospect of bringing together the main actors in the conflict.

According to Sarkozy, his discussion with Mubarak recommended the acceleration of all possible steps to prop up the recently initiated dialogue between Palestine and Israel.

"We expect a process that meets the expectations of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, and also of the region to which we belong," said the Egyptian leader, who was expected to arrive Monday evening in Washington.

In the U.S. capital, Mubarak was expected to participate in a dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian National Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas, and King Abdullah of Jordan.

With U.S. President Barack Obama as host, the dinner will be a preamble to the effective resumption of dialogue on September 2. (Prensa Latina)