President Mubarak said his visit to Saudi Arabia and his talks with King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz came in the framework of the ongoing consultations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia in the face of the challenges confronting the Arab nation.

The President told chief editors accompanying him on his way back home from Saudi Arabia that Saudi Arabia and Egypt were agreed on the need for reaching an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and putting an end to the acts of destruction there. The President said there is an Egyptian-Saudi agreement that Rome Conference should adopt a clear-cut resolution calling for immediate ceasefire for saving the Lebanese people in order to open the door before reaching a political solution for the Lebanese crisis.

The President said it is difficult to tackle the crisis in the light of the raging fighting, urging Arab countries to act for putting an end to the fighting in Lebanon. The President said Egypt is making contacts with all parties in order to put an end to the current deterioration in Lebanon and to spare the region the risks of miscalculated escalation which could drag the region to untoward consequences.

He said Egypt is keeping contactS with Syria, Jordan and all Arab countries with the aim of easing the suffering of the Lebanese people. Mubarak said Egypt supports the unity and sovereignty of the Lebanese people. In an answer to a query, the President said Egypt is aware of the risks of the current situation in Lebanon warning that the whole region could face a disaster if no ceasefire was reached. He said the solution now lies in reaching an immediate ceasefire adding that all parties are advised not to be dragged to miscalculated adventures. The President said Egypt cannot tolerate any interference in its decisions adding that Egypt cannot enter into deals with any party at the account of another.

On the Palestinian cause, the President said Egypt is exerting efforts for easing the sufferings of the Palestinian people. He said the main goal is to help the Palestinians establish a sovereign and independent Palestinian state living in peace with neighbors. On home affairs, the President said the Egyptian government seeks to achieve comprehensive development, create modern Egyptian society so as to provide jobs for youth and eliminate unemployment. The President noted that Egypt has accomplished many achievements in the field of political and economic reform. He also added that his presidential platform is currently carried out in the fields of housing and agriculture. The President said the government is taking care of the limited-income brackets and is seeking to provide dignified life for all citizens.

The President said privatization of the national press establishments is completely ruled out as they are playing a national role in the service of the society and the people. The President said a study is currently being conducted on restructuring the financial status of the national press establishments. Mubarak said he is for the freedom of the press adding that he was convinced of the need for revoking imprisonment in publication-related cases.