KURDISTAN NEWSLINE

October 23, 2003

 

 

Kurdish Leader Talabani Meets President Mubarak

 

 

Cairo, Oct. 22— Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak met with Kurdish leader and Iraq Governing Council member Jalal Talabani in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Shiekh today .

 

                                    

  

Hosni Mubarak

Jalal Talabani

 

  

 

The two leaders discussed the current situation in Iraq and ways to work for stability in the country, with a view to helping the people of Iraq manage their affairs.

 

On Tuesday, Mr. Talabani met in Cairo with Arab League Secretary General Amir Mussa to discuss Iraqi priorities to achieve a sustainable democratic and federal political system which will improve people’s lives and promote economic growth. A joint press conference followed the meeting at which questions about the Iraq issue, the regional relations and  ways of strengthening regional  peace and security were answered.

 

Mr. Talabani  met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher  and the National Security Minister Omar Sulaiman on Tuesday.

 

He also met with the United States Ambassador to Egypt, David Welch and General John P. Abizaid, Commander of the United States Central Command.

 

Legacy

 

While best known for its pyramids and ancient civilizations, Egypt has played a pivotal role in the political situation in the Middle East in modern times.

 

The Kurdish heritage in Egypt goes back to the days of Saladin  (1138-1193) who founded the Ayybbids dynasty in Egypt and recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187.