Egyptian medicines arrive in Baghdad. Exporters urged to target emerging Afro-Arab markets. Egypt organizes training courses in Bosnia. US view of Egyptian economy has proved positive, particularly with the reforms introduced are now in place, and with the country s persistence to catch up with international progress so strong. Moreover, the long-awaited announcement of the US peace initiative is yet to be made.
Nobody knows of aspects to it that give rise to either hope or frustration.
The recent tour in the Middle East of British PM Tony Blair has produced a fresh momentum for activating a peace process long in dire straits. An agreement has materialized to have a four-way conference held in London which would be attended by Palestinian President Arafat, Israeli PM Netanyahu, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Blair himself. The indications are that the US is not likely to let pass the opportunity of the conference without achieving some progress particularly as the recent shuttle of US Peace Coordinator Dennis Ross has failed to produce results, and as pressure has increased of the international community for action to be taken by the US, in its capacity as major sponsor of the Middle East peace process. Most probably the US would press both Arafat and Netanyahu to make the tough decisions necessary for resuming negotiations. Washington is also liable to exercise pressure on both sides to accept compromise solutions of the issues at hand.