March 14, 2006

NORTH REGION NEWS

Pope meets Egyptian President at Vatican 

Discuss atrocities against Coptic Christians

VATICAN CITY, March 14 -- Pope Benedict XVI and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak held talks at the Vatican about Iran, Iraq and the prospects for lasting peace in the Middle East, the Holy See said.

Mubarak was on Monday wrapping up a European tour that included discussions about the new Hamas-led Palestinian government and concerns over Iran's nuclear program.

Benedict and Mubarak had a cordial half-hour meeting, said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls.

"The meeting allowed them to review questions dealing with the prospects for a lasting peace in the Middle East," Navarro-Valls said in a statement. "There was a deep exchange of ideas about the situation in Iraq and also a look at the issues regarding" Iran, he said without giving details.

Mubarak's spokesman did not immediately answer his cell phone. Egypt's semiofficial Middle East News Agency said Benedict and Mubarak discussed "recent regional developments" as well as respect for religious differences.

Both sides also noted the "good relations" between the Vatican and Cairo and reviewed interreligious relations in Egypt, the Vatican spokesman said.

Earlier this year, a Coptic Christian died from injuries sustained in clashes among Copts, Muslims and police in southern Egypt. The clashes erupted when Muslims objected to the erection of an altar and cross in a Christian-owned guest house.

In Egypt, government permission is required for the construction of a church.

Last fall, deadly Muslim rioting targeted Christian churches in Alexandria, Egypt.

Coptic Christians are a minority in Egypt, which is overwhelmingly Muslim.

Mubarak was in Rome last week and met with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi among others. During his visit, the Egyptian president voiced opposition to any use of force in the Iran nuclear crisis, saying dialogue should be the only option.

He traveled to Germany last weekend, meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel. During those talks, Mubarak said the international community must work with Hamas as the democratically elected government. But the Egyptian leader also said Hamas has an obligation to abide by agreements signed by previous Palestinian leaders with Israel and others. - AP