Thaindian News

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, EGYPT (BNO NEWS) — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Monday reiterated their commitment to reach a comprehensive peace in the region. He also said the United States is looking for ‘new ways’ to address the situation in Gaza.

Vice President Joe Biden and Second Lady Jill Biden arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday, where the Vice President met with President Mubarak on Monday to discuss a wide range of bilateral and regional issues, including regional peace, Iran, and Afghanistan.

“I am grateful to President Mubarak for his hospitality, and for the opportunity to discuss a broad range of issues,” Biden said after the conclusion of the meeting. “Egypt and the United States are partners in a shared desire to see peace and economic prosperity in the Middle East, North Africa, and Sudan. I thank Egypt for the leadership role it has played in supporting these priorities.”

Biden said the two leaders reiterated their commitment to reaching peace in the region, and said the United States recognizes and appreciates Egypt’s leadership in support of these efforts. “The status quo is unsustainable for all sides,” Biden said. “It is vital to make progress in the proximity talks between Israelis and Palestinians to enable the parties to move to direct negotiations as soon as possible that will result in an end to the occupation that began in 1967 and to a two-state solution to the conflict with Israel and a Palestinian state living in peace and security.”

Biden said it is consulting closely with Egypt, as well as other partners, on ‘new ways’ to address the humanitarian, economic, security, and political aspects of the situation in Gaza.

The leaders also discussed other areas of regional concern, such as Afghanistan and Iraq. “We appreciate the vital role Egypt is playing in Afghanistan and its support for a strong, independent, unified and democratic Iraq,” Biden said.

Biden and Mubarak also discussed its ’serious concerns’ about Iran’s nuclear program - which Iran itself is only for peaceful activities. “The international community continues to witness Iran’s non-compliance with its obligations to the United Nations Security Council and the International Agency for Atomic Energy, as well as Iran’s unwillingness to engage seriously with the P5+1 on its nuclear program,” Biden said. “The United States remains committed to a diplomatic resolution to these serious issues, but we will continue to hold Iran accountable for its continued violations of its international responsibilities, in accordance with our dual-track policy.”

The Vice President said he expects to see developments in the United Nations Security Council to ‘hold Iran accountable’ very soon. “In addition to concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, we remain concerned about its destabilizing activities throughout the region, including with regard to its support for Hizballah and Hamas,” Biden added.

The two further discussed the situation in Sudan, as well as several other issues.

The meeting in Egypt on Monday was only the first stop on a week-long trip to Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa. On Tuesday, Biden will meet with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga. There they will also meet with other officials.

On Wednesday, Biden is scheduled to meet with Southern Sudanese President Salva Kiir. The next day, on Thursday, Biden will meet with former South African President Thabo Mbeki to discuss implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan and the situation in Darfur. In the evening, Biden and his wife will attend the FIFA Kick-off Celebration Concert at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.