Egypt to participate actively in next Arab Summit in Iraq, Abul-Gheit says:

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Egypt‘s Foreign Minister, Ahmed Abul-Gheit, who started an official  visit to Baghdad on Sunday, has said that Egypt would have an active participation in the next Arab Summit, scheduled to be held in Iraq next March, reiterating that his country would “present special expertise and potentials in this respect.” “The mission we have come for during our visit for Iraq is to extend congratulations for the success of the formation of the new Iraqi government, hoping that this government would succeed to serve the Iraqi people,” Abul-Gheit told a joint news conference with his Iraqi Counterpart, Hoshiar Zibary in Baghdad on Sunday, pointing out that “Egypt shall have an active participation in the Arab Summit, scheduled to be held in Iraq next March, and shall present expertise and potentials in this respect.” The forthcoming Arab Summit is scheduled to be held in Baghdad in March next year, and Iraq had announced a broad plan to rehabilitate Baghdad‘s streets, buildings and 5-star hotels, including Babel, Palestine, Baghdad and Ishtar Hotels, as part of its plan to receive the Arab Summit. Abul-Gheit also said that Egypt “would increase the activities of its Embassy in Baghdad, and would open an Egyptian Consulate in Arbil,” reiteating that Egyptian companies would have an important investment role in Iraq. He said he would also meet “Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the Parliament Speaker, Usama al-Nujeifi,” confirming that “Egypt would stand to the side Iraqis to overcome their current problems.” Iraq‘s Foreign Ministry Undersecretary, Lubeid Abbawi, had said earlier in the day that Egyptian Foreign Minister, Abul-Gheit’s visit to Baghdad “is taking place to boost the bilateral relations and discuss the achievement of a strategic partnership between the two sisterly countries.” MB (A) / SKH 1