Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif asserted Sunday21/5/2006 that his government was always having dialogue with all social groups in order to achieve progress in the various domains.

The current dialogue and discussions in the media and at symposiums proves the society's vitality as well as its desire to achieve development in the various spheres, he added.

Highlighting political reforms in Egypt, Nazif cited the first multi-candidate presidential election in the country.

The remarks came at a seminar held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.

The seminar was attended by Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Senior.

Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif highlighted the importance of dialogue in an age marked by openness, noting that globalization and modern technology narrowed the gap between peoples and civilizations.

He said political reform in the country aims at enhancing the role played by the cabinet, empowering women's participation on the parliamentary arena, backing the activities of non governmental organizations and establishing a human rights national centre to report annually on human rights conditions in Egypt.

About the distorted image of Islam in the West, the Prime Minister said Islamic world leaders should have dialogue with the West to get through the message that Islam is a religion of peace.

Nazif also noted that the issues would be raised at the World Economic Forum (WEF), adding that he had already discussed the issue with a number of leaders participating in the event. For his part, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi underscored that his country overcame sectarian conflicts through dialogue among all social groups.

Meantime, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said dialogue could unify people to work on achieving development.

Regarding the Iranian nuclear file, he said the crisis could be resolved via dialogue and diplomatic means, noting that he had recently held talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Erdogan said nuclear energy should be used for peaceful purposes. Also, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora said his country was holding a national dialogue to resolve its problems, noting that halting dialogue plunged Lebanon into civil war several years ago.

The Lebanese national dialogue was seeking to establish balanced relations with Syria, he added, calling on Arab countries to support the Lebanese dialogue to swiftly resolve the Lebanese problems.

He further noted that the dialogue aimed at ending the Palestinian armed presence in the country.

Regarding a report on the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik AL-Hariri, Seniora expected the report to be issued on June 25, calling for establishing an international court to punish all those who had a hand in such an abhorrent crime.

At the same time, Nazif reviews economic reform during his meeting Sunday with two US Senators, Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Nazif stressed the importance of the strategic relations between Egypt and-the United States.

Cabinet spokesman Dr. Magdy Radi said the prime minister reviewed the economic reform steps. Prime Minister Dr. Nazif also explained the Egyptian role at the regional level and efforts exerted by Egypt for reactivating peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Prime Minister also received Robert Zoellick, the deputy Secretary of state. Eng. Rasheed Mohamed Rasheed, the minister, of Trade and Industry who attended the meeting said the meeting tackled the future of relations between Egypt and the United States and ways of developing them in the economic domain.

The US official said his country is aware of the significance of US aid to Egypt adding there will be no change in the US assistance programme in the upcoming stage. He said talks also discussed ways of increasing Egyptian exports.