PEACE & SECURITY | Creating a more stable world
16 January 2008
Bush, Mubarak Pledge To Strengthen Efforts for Middle East Peace
Bush says Egypt is a strategic U.S. ally
Washington -- President Bush January 16 said that, with steady engagement, a Palestinian-Israeli peace accord could be reached by the end of his term in office, and that the prospects for reaching an accord are strengthened greatly by the support from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Mubarak emphasized in a meeting with Bush at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula that he regards the Palestinian question as being at the core of problems and conflict in the Middle East. The two world leaders met on Bush's final day of an eight-day journey that has taken the U.S. president through the Middle East.
"I also emphasized that we in Egypt, we are keen on supporting peace efforts that we're ready, hand in hand with the United States of America ... to put an end to this Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Mubarak said at a joint briefing at the conclusion of his talks with President Bush.
Mubarak said that the resolution of this conflict will open new horizons for a more peaceful and secure future in the Middle East.
Bush pledged continued engagement in the Middle East peace process through the final year of his administration. The president also said he plans to return to the region by May and continue talks begun in the past eight days -- in his first major trip to the Middle East -- when he visited Israel, the Palestinian Territories, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
"When I say I'm coming back to stay engaged, I mean it. And when I say I'm optimistic we can get a deal done, I mean what I'm saying," Bush said at the briefing.
In addition to discussing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Bush and Mubarak also discussed the security and political situation in Lebanon and the importance of countries across the region lending their support to Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. "It's important to encourage the holding of immediate and unconditional presidential elections according to the Lebanese Constitution and to make it clear to Syria, Iran and their allies [that] they must end their interference and efforts to undermine the process," the president said.
The two leaders also discussed the role of Iraq and Egypt in the world. "Our friendship with Egypt is deep and broad. Egypt will continue to be a vital strategic partner of the United States. We will work together to build a safer and more peaceful world," Bush said.
A transcript of remarks by Bush and Mubarak is available on America.gov.
