E-063/00
March 24, 2000

VIDEO  (Foreign Minister meets with the press)

EGYPT WANTS CLOSER TIES WITH OAS COUNTRIES--FOREIGN MINISTER

Seeking closer ties with the Western Hemisphere nations, the government of Egypt has proposed an exchange program under which young diplomats from Organization of American States (OAS) member countries and Egypt would be trained.

Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amre Moussa, put the proposal to the OAS Permanent Council today, explaining that his government wanted to open new areas of cooperation. "We are ready to arrange for three-week courses [at] the Egyptian Institute for Diplomatic Studies," the minister declared.

He also suggested a joint action plan that would include exchange visits by government and business leaders, stronger scientific and technical cooperation and joint business councils. This would help redress the lack of information about the Latin American and Caribbean markets--identified as a major obstacle, at a seminar Egypt's Foreign Ministry organized earlier this month.

Mr. Moussa said Egypt's successful economic and trade ties with the United States and Canada would serve as a model that would "lead our way and inspire our approach to develop relations with Latin America and the Caribbean as well as with trade groupings."

The Foreign Minister's remarks also touched on developments in Egypt and the Middle East peace process in which his country is a key player.

Belize Ambassador James S. Murphy presided at the meeting in his capacity as Permanent Council Chairman, and a number of the member country delegations expressed their views on the presentation by the visiting Egyptian dignitary.

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