NEWS

House Foreign Affairs Committee

U.S. House of Representatives

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Republican

CONTACT: Sam Stratman, (202) 226-7875, April 6, 2007

Lee Cohen, (202) 226-1139

For IMMEDIATE Release

Ros-Lehtinen Concludes Two-Day Visit to Egypt

Includes meetings with President Mubarak, Parliamentarians;

Delegation arrives in Germany today for visit with U.S. troops

(CAIRO, Egypt) – While praising Egypt’s leading role in trying to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) urged Egyptian leaders on Thursday to do more to stop terrorists operating in the Palestinian territories from destroying an historic opportunity for an Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement.

Describing Egypt as a “source of stability in the region,” Ros-Lehtinen expressed her views during a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and urged his government to do more to curb the arms traffic with terrorists operating in the Gaza strip which borders Egypt.

“The continued flow of money and weapons to violent extremists poses a serious threat to establishing peace and security in Israel and within the Palestinian territories,” said Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

During the two-hour meeting with Mubarak, Ros-Lehtinen said the delegation, led by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), also addressed efforts to accelerate economic and political reform in Egypt, the situation in Darfur, Iran, Iraq, anti-Semitism in Arab countries and Egypt’s nuclear program.

During a press conference with Egyptian media following the Presidential meeting, Ros-Lehtinen was asked about prospects for U.S. dialogue with the Government of Syria. Ros-Lehtinen said past U.S. efforts to engage Syria have met with no success.

“Syria continues to support violent extremist groups that threaten the sovereignty and security of countries in the region, particularly Israel,” said Ros-Lehtinen, adding, “Syria must end these destabilizing activities as a precondition for further dialogue rather than be rewarded with political overtures and legitimacy.”

The delegation concludes its visit on Friday morning following a meeting with Gameela Ismailiya, wife of imprisoned Egyptian opposition leader, Ayman Nour.

Ros-Lehtinen is expected to present Ismailiya a copy of a petition signed by herself and other Members of Congress calling on the Egyptian government to release Nour.

“We are particularly concerned by efforts to change the Egyptian Constitution that would increase presidential powers, diminish the role of the judiciary, and marginalize opposition groups,” Ros-Lehtinen said.

The imprisonment of political opposition leaders including Ayman Nour and Talat al-Sadat raise questions about the Egyptian government’s level of commitment to implement the necessary political reforms in Egypt.

Thursday’s schedule in Cairo also included meetings with the foreign minister and a meeting with the Speaker of Parliament and other parliamentarians, which Ros-Lehtinen described as a lively discussion about political reform, Israeli-Palestinian issues; Iraq and Darfur.

Later today, the delegation arrives in Germany for a visit to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and meetings with U.S. Troops injured in Iraq.

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