As for Syria and Lebanon, it is uncertain whether they will be ready to take part. It must be made clear that we are not talking at all about Madrid II,' an official said, referring to the 1991 conference that brought the Arabs and Israelis together. We are not ready to re-negotiate the terms of reference of the peace process. This conference is about dealing with the problem of Israeli intransigence. No decision has been taken to date on the date and venue.
Possible sites are Egypt, France, Norway and the United States.
A joint venture for the manufacture of buses and trucks was signed between Egypt's Ghabbour Group and Renault. Other ventures were launched for the production of cement and the expansion of the Egyptian mobile telephone network, with Telecom's assistance. Plans for opening a non-profit French university in Cairo were finalized. These include a 14-ton colossus of Ptolemy I, which was salvaged from the Mediterranean by a French archaeological team working in Alexandria. On Wednesday Mubarak visited the Institute du Monde Arab where 200 Fatimid treasures are exhibited.