Military

DATE=12/22/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL/EGYPT (LONG)

NUMBER=2-311104

BYLINE=ROSS DUNN

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Egypt has invited Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to visit Cairo soon for his first meeting with President Hosni Mubabak. The invitation was made public at the end of a visit to Jerusalem by Egypt's Foreign Minister. Ross Dunn reports from Jerusalem.

TEXT: Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher made the announcement after his meeting with Prime Minister Sharon.

/// 1st MAHER ACT BEGINS ///

Mr. Prime Minister, thank-you for your hospitality. I hope to see you in Egypt soon, so that we continue to work together for peace, we continue to work together for justice and we continue to work for a better life for the Israelis and the Palestinians and all the regions of the world.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Maher's visit to Israel was designed largely to try to renew progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Egypt has played a key role in trying to convince Palestinian militant groups to agree to a partial ceasefire. Egypt also wants a commitment from Israel to ease restrictions on the Palestinians and move forward with negotiations.

But Mr. Sharon has said the Palestinian Authority must dismantle the groups that carry out terrorist attacks, and he has threatened that if that does not happen he will take unilateral steps toward establishing a final Israeli-Palestinian border.

If Prime Minister Sharon meets with President Mubarak, it will be their first meeting since Mr. Sharon to power in 2001, a few months after the start of the current Palestinian uprising against Israel.

The violence has lasted more than three years, and at one point led to Egypt recalling its Ambassador from Tel Aviv to protest Israel's military response to the Palestinian attacks.

Israel is now asking for Egypt to reinstate its Ambassador.

But Mr. Maher says Egypt is no hurry to resume full diplomatic ties with Israel, without a revival of the peace process.

/// 2nd MAHER ACT BEGINS ///

All this is not to be rushed. I believe that we have to create confidence between the two countries by showing progress on the general peace process.

/// END ACT ///

The Egyptian foreign minister is also expected to help facilitate a future meeting between Mr. Sharon and his new Palestinian counterpart, Ahmed Qureia. (SIGNED)

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