President Mubarak Wednesday 21/11/2007 received a telephone call form US President George W. Bush who invited Egypt to take part in Annapolis conference which will open next Tuesday.

Meantime, Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit received a letter Wednesday 21/11/2007 from US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice including an invitation to Egypt to attend the Annapolis conference to be held in the United States on November 26-27.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman said the letter was received by the Foreign Ministry and the conference will take place on November 27 in Annapolis, Maryland. It will be inaugurated by US President George W. Bush.

In the letter, Rice underlined the importance of Egypt's participation in the peace conference as it helps boost current efforts to make a progress in the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations aiming at finding a just and durable solution to the dispute in a bid to establish the long-hoped for peace in the region, the spokesman said.

The spokesman added that Abul-Gheit accepted the US invitation as part of Egypt's keenness on offering any possible help to the Palestinian issue, especially as the letter includes the main terms of references of the peace process, mainly the land-for-peace principle, the Arab Peace Initiative, relevant UN resolutions and the other agreements signed between the two sides.

Abul-Gheit said the Arab contact group has been invited to attend the Annapolis meeting, but it is up to each member to make its sovereign decision on whether to go, noting Egypt would be there.

Asked about the time frame for negotiations, Abul-Gheit expressed hope that the Palestinian-Israeli talks would be finalised before US President George W. Bush's term in office ends, almost a year away.

After Annapolis, a follow-up mechanism will be set by Israel, the US and the Palestinian Authority, Abul-Gheit told reporters, adding that other parties, like the international Quartet, might as well have a say.

He said the Annapolis peace conference would be followed by intensive and serious negotiations to tackle the fundamental issues topped by the future Palestinian state's borders, refugees and al-Quds or East Jerusalem.

He said that he discussed with the Quartet's envoy Tony Blair his plan for carrying out projects aiming at improving the Palestinian economy.

The Foreign Minister said Blair's efforts must be met with cooperation from the Israeli side to achieve the long awaited breakthrough.