Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit will leave Cairo Monday 21/5/2007 for Nairobi, Kenya, to take part in the 12th COMESA conference, to be held on May 22-23.

Abul-Gheit's participation in the gathering reflects Egypt's keenness on developing its role and ties with African regional groupings, the Foreign Ministry spokesman Alaa El-Hadidi said.

Egypt, since its accession to COMESA in 1998 has been keen on developing its foreign trade with the group's member states in light of a growing trade movement among the bloc's members and its economic capability.

The volume of trade exchange among member states stood at $2.6 billion in 2004 against $2.1 billion in the year before. In 2005, the value of trade exchange hit $5.6 billion in comparison with around $4.5 billion in 2002.

On the other hand,Ahmed Abul-Gheit on Sunday 20/5/2007 met with the African Union Commission President Alpha Oumar Konare, currently visiting Egypt on a range of African hot issues, topped by Somalia and Darfur.

Speaking to the press following the meeting, Egypt's top diplomat termed his meeting with Konare as "very frank," as the Egyptian side was very keen to analyse conditions in Somalia and Darfur and to convey Cairo's viewpoint on how to activate the political process and dialogue between the Sudanese government and the parties which did not sign the Abuja agreement.

The Egyptian side also shed light on the need to restore security and stability to Somalia and to secure the launch of a comprehensive dialogue that could help realise national reconciliation in the country.

AU Commission chairman Konare expressed deep concern about the deteriorating security and humanitarian conditions in Somalia, stressing the need to deploy African peacekeeping forces to facilitate the withdrawal of the Ethiopian forces, Abul-Gheit told reporters.

Abul-Gheit said he briefed Konare on Egyptian views regarding the activation of the political process in Somalia within the context of a partnership between the AU, the Arab League, the UN and a number of international and regional parties concerned.