_WORLD WATCH______________________________
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Talks center on peace process
Papal meeting with Mubarak

As he met with Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak in February, Pope John Paul II called for an end to the violence in the Middle East and a resumption of peace talks.

The Pope spoke privately with Mubarak for about 30 minutes. The Vatican later disclosed that the main topic of conversation had been the Middle East peace process, and the need for “a climate of détente and dialogue,” and the resumption of peace negotiations “as soon as possible.”

Mubarak, in his own comments after the meeting, emphasized his concerns about the breakdown in Israeli-Palestinian talks. The Egyptian president, who met separately with Italy’s President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and Prime Minister Giuliano Amato, told reporters that he hoped the European community would take a more active role in promoting the peace process. Mubarak declined to comment on the likelihood of progress toward peace under the leadership of new Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon; he told the press that he would prefer to give Sharon time to establish a pattern of policy before making public comments.