Egypt disapproved the Israeli plans on modifying the route of the separation wall to the eastwards of the West Bank, leading to the isolation of some 20000 Palestinians from the rest of the West Bank.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit affirmed that such irresponsible steps threaten the efforts exerted for the sake of resuming the peace process and overshadows the intentions for achieving a just and comprehensive peace. Egypt is keen on maintaining a role in the development of Africa, the Egyptian Foreign Minister said.

Ahmed Abul-Ghelt, in press statements Thursday, made clear that the Egyptian foreign policy actually aimed at supporting and effectively contributing to the political, economic and social development in easterly African nations.

Abul-Gheit, who attended the eighth African summit in Addis Ababa on behalf of President Hosni Mubarak, said Egypt welcomed declarations made to complete the joint African action.

Out of this belief, Egypt has supported a decision to implement recommendations of a food security summit held in Abuja in December 2006. He added that the Egyptian Fund for Technical Cooperation with Africa organized a training course last year on desertification and modern agricultural technologies to improve agricultural products, noting that cadres of 20 African countries took part.

There is also President Mubarak's initiative in the field of education, which secures some 200 scholarships for Africa students to study at Egyptian universities, Abul-Gheit said.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit doubted the controversial Al-Ahram newspaper report on Iran's role in killing an Egyptian diplomat in Iraq, saying the story was based on an anonymous source.

Abul-Ghei even doubted the very existence of such a dubious source.
At a joint press conference with his Irish counterpart, Abul-Gheit characterised the assassination of Ihab Sherif as a tragedy by all standards, noting that investigations conducted so far into the killing have failed to pinpoint the quarter behind the crime.

Abul-Gheit welcomed his Irish counterpart Dermot Ahern, currently visiting Cairo as part of a regional tour.
Abul-Gheit hailed the friendly relations binding Egypt and Ireland, expressing appreciation of Ireland's support of Arab issues.

The Egyptian top diplomat said Ahern's visit to the region reflected his country's interest in following up the Mideast situation, noting that Ireland had forces in Lebanon.

He noted that talks with the Irish minister dwelt on a host of issues, including the Palestinian cause and means of reviving the Mideast peace process, the conditions in Lebanon and Iraq as well as the Darfur and Somali questions.

For his part, Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern said his visit to Egypt was meant to continue consultations on issues raised during Mubarak's visit to his country in December 2006, especially talks on the Darfur crisis.

He added that Ireland welcomed the role played by Egypt in resolving regional issues, noting that Egypt's vantage point on regional issues was of great importance and Europe should take it into consideration.

Ahern noted that Mubarak told him that the Darfur stand-off was sensitive as it was not just a question of dispatching United Nations forces to the region, adding that Mubarak's vision went in line with what he himself saw in the Darfur region during a visit in July 2006.

Regarding a Quartet meeting to be held within hours, Abul- Gheit said Egypt was holding continued contacts with the various Quartet parties in order to push forward the stalled peace process and bring the Palestinian and Israeli sides back to the negotiating table.

Abul-Gheit said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arranged the coming Quartet meeting in Washington in order to pave the way for a new US effort to revive the stalled peace process and resume negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

Rice is expected in the region in mid February, he added. Asked about Syria's role in the Mideast peace process, the Irish Minister said that Damascus is playing a major role in the Mideast.

The EU should" consult with Syria on Mideast issues, especially Lebanon, he said, adding that he would visit Beirut later on Thursday.
On Iraq's future, Abul-Gheit said that the issue was discussed during his talks with the Irish Foreign Minister.

The situation is very complicated there, Abul-Gheit said. The Egyptian top diplomat noted that US President George W. Bush has unveiled a new strategy to achieve progress in Iraq.

Egypt understands the need for such a strategy which aims to push the Iraqi government to tackle the issue of militias killing innocent Iraqis, he added.

The strategy also seeks to integrate the Sunnis into the Iraqi political process, reform the Iraqi army and halt foreign interference in the Iraqi internal affairs, he added.

This is what Egypt has been doing since invasion, he noted.
On the arrest of a logger by Egyptian authorities, Abul- Gheit said he had no information about the issue.

For his part, the Irish Foreign Minister condemned the ongoing sectarian violence in Iraq, adding that there was an Egyptian-Irish vision on a way-out of the current situation.

But the issue requires major international efforts and support for the elected Iraqi government, he added.

On the Darfur issue, the Irish top diplomat said that efforts were underway to get all parties join the peace agreement.

Egypt is playing a major role in this respect, Abul-Gheit said that priority should be given to comprehensive agreement accepted by all parties.