Egypt: US Diplomats Tight-Lipped on Potential Bush Middle East Visit

By Yasser Khalil
28/09/2006
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat- American sources at the US Embassy in Cairo have revealed to "Asharq al-Awsat" that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's anticipated visit to the region at the end of next week falls within the framework of preparing a scheduled visit by US President George Bush to the Middle East during the month of November.
The sources which spoke to Asharq al-Awsat on the condition of anonymity asserted that Cairo, Riyadh, Tel Aviv, and Amman are main stages in the US President's tour. But embassy officials refused to deny or confirm the report of President Bush's visit to the region.
The sources also revealed that the means of reviving the peace process between the Palestinians and Israelis would be the main item on President Bush's agenda of his talks with the region's leaders and pointed out that Bush remains committed to his vision of establishing a state for the Palestinians alongside Israel. They added that the US President would discuss during his tour the situations in Lebanon, Iraq, and Darfur and also the Iranian nuclear issue.