US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit stressed the need for reaching a ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah.
Abul-Gheit stressed that "an immediate ceasefire to the violence is imperative" adding "we have to bring it to an end as soon as possible".
But Rice, however, said "it should happen as soon as possible when conditions are conductive to do so". Abul-Gheit and Rice held talks in Washington Tuesday on the recent developments in the region as part of the strategic dialogue by the Egyptian and US sides.
Rice told a joint news conference she held jointly with Abul-Gheit that Egypt is an important partner acting for reaching a solution to the Palestinian cause adding that the United States would like to see the return to the roadmap which calls for a two-state solution. She stressed the depth of relations between Egypt and the United States.
Abul-Gheit said the dialogue with the Americans included the situation in Lebanon and Gaza Strip and means to create the convenient climate for ceasefire, the deployment of the Lebanese army along the southern borders and the deployment as well of a strong peacekeeping international force.
July 19, 2006