Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit described the meeting of the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan and GCC states with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as important and fruitful.

He said views were exchanged frankly and clearly adding there was much understanding between Rice and other participants in the meeting.

The Egyptian top diplomat, at a joint press conference with Rice in Sharm el-Sheikh, noted that all views were exchanged frankly at the meeting.

The meeting dealt with the Middle East peace process, the Iraqi file and the Iranian nuclear programme along with the situation in Lebanon.

The foreign ministers, he added, also discussed means of fighting terrorism and efforts exerted to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Rice, he added, explained to the Arab ministers the US vision on reviving the Middle East peace process through an international peace conference called for by US President George W. Bush.

The Arab ministers listened carefully to the US vision on the situation in Iraq during the remaining period of the term in office of the current US administration, added Abul-Gheit.

Iraq and means to support the country to help its people to live in peace and security, Lebanon and ways to support the democratically elected government and the Palestinian-Israeli file topped the agenda of the meeting.

Rice hoped the meetings will bear fruit to set the scene for President Bush's proposed international conference on the Middle East peace.

On new commitments by the GCC countries and Egypt towards Iraq, Abul-Gheit said the Arabs are committed to maintain the unity of Iraq.

Egypt hosted several conferences in Sharm el-Sheikh on Iraq, he noted.

The Egyptian top diplomat called on foreign countries to refrain from interfering in Iraq's internal affairs.

Egypt is one of the most diplomatically active countries towards Iraq, said Rice, reminding her audience that Egypt had lost one of its diplomats in Baghdad.

Abul-Gheit said he posted the US top diplomat on the outcome of his visit along with his Jordanian counterpart to Israel.

On the US-proposed international peace conference, Abul-Gheit said he wanted to have a detailed agenda that would help set up a Palestinian state soon.

Commenting on the Iranian Foreign Ministry statement on US arms assistance to Egypt, Abul-Gheit said he was astounded when he read the Iranian statement this morning, adding that US military assistance to Egypt went back to 1979. Abul-Gheit went on to say that supplying the Gulf States with American weaponry was needed to preserve stability.