A Foreign Ministry spokesman has dismissed reports on a US veto to the Egyptian efforts for launching inter-Palestinian dialogue.

He said the inter-Palestinian dialogue would be held in time, adding the Egyptian efforts are currently focused on shoring up the truce to mitigate the siege on the Palestinian people.

The spokesman referred to the Egyptian efforts for resuming negotiations on prisoners swap.

Meantime, a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo Tuesday from Gaza for talks on re-opening Rafah checking point and the release of Palestinian prisoners held in jails in the light of truce agreement which was sponsored by Egypt.

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry also, appreciated efforts exerted by Egypt to strengthen the truce between the Palestinians and Israel.

Emerging from a meeting Tuesday8/7/2008 with Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit, Serry said he discussed with the foreign minister means to stabilize the truce.

The UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process said although the Gaza truce is still fragile, it is important to stabilize it.

He said that the United Nations Chief had affirmed to him upon assuming his post that the conditions in  Gaza Strip must be given priority due to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave.

The UN envoy said he discussed with Minister Omar Suleiman and Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit means to strengthen the truce, as well as the implementation of the Annapolis agreement and continuing indirect dialogue between Syria and Israel. They also reviewed developments in Lebanon.

The UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process said he exchanged some information with the Egyptian side on the importance of opening Gaza crossings, pointing out that Egypt and the United Nations share information about the number of trucks entering Gaza.
The two sides underlined the importance of increasing the number of trucks that enter Gaza to improve the living conditions in the Palestinian enclave, he said.

He stressed the importance of putting the Annapolis agreement into force to help the Palestinians in  Gaza Strip and the West Bank improve their living conditions.

Furthermore, Egypt is sparing no effort in stabilizing conditions in the Palestinian territories and cementing the truce between the Palestinians and the Israelis in  Gaza Strip, Egypt's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossam Zaki said Tuesday8/7/2008, referring to a meeting held earlier in the day between Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit and UN Special Coordinator Robert Serry.

The meeting was part of Egypt's interaction with the UN and the international community to pressurize Israel to improve Palestinian conditions, he said.

Abul-Gheit asserted during the meeting the need to confront Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank especially in Jerusalem, he added.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister underscored Egypt's concern with improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people particularly in  Gaza Strip, he said.