"Israel should join the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to stop the nuclear race in the Middle East region,"said Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit while speaking to the Al-Akhbar dialogue forum.

In regards to the Sudanese file, Abul-Gheit said Egypt is exerting its efforts to preserve the unity of Sudan and establish peace on its land, especially in the war-ravaged Darfur region.

"Egypt and Iran have resumed their diplomatic ties which have been severed in 1979," he noted, adding that Egypt now has an ambassador to Iran and an Iranian ambassador to Egypt.

However, those ties are not comprehensive due to two reasons, namely that some Iranian groups call for withdrawing from Camp David agreement, and secondly is that there are some unfulfilled requirements of security nature of the two countries should settle before building up a healthy relationship.

Abul-Gheit views both local and foreign influences should stop in Lebanon so as to benefit the Arab world of the chance to help Lebanese settle their internal disputes.