The U.S. Congress on Friday 6/11/2009 welcomed a proposal by People's Assembly Speaker Dr. Ahmed Fathi Sorour, currently visiting Washington, on establishing an Egyptian-U.S. parliamentary alliance.

The Congress called for taking all needed measures for putting the overture into effect as soon as possible in order to promote joint strategic relations.

During the visit, Dr. Sorour had talks with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

He also met with Richard G. Lugar, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

During the meetings, he reviewed Egypt's vision on means of realizing peace in the Middle East, highlighting the importance of prodding Israel into halting settlement construction in the West Bank, especially in East Jerusalem.