French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy was scheduled to meet with the Egyptian president, hold talks with Muslim leaders and discuss Israel-Palestinian relations during a brief visit to Egypt that was starting Wednesday. The official visit through Thursday is Douste-Blazy's first to Egypt as foreign minister. He was being accompanied by Dalil Boubakeur, the head of the Paris Mosque who also leads the French Council of the Muslim Faith, an umbrella grouping of French Muslim organizations. They are scheduled to meet with Sheikh Al-Azhar University Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi. Those talks will allow Douste-Blazy to "hear the point of view of top Muslim leaders on the big issues relating to the dialogue of cultures," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. Douste-Blazy will also meet with Hosni Mubarak, who was sworn in Tuesday for a new, six-year presidential term. He was also to hold talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Ahmed Aboul Gheit. Mattei said Douste-Blazy's discussions were expected to focus on international and regional issues, including Lebanon, Syria and an EU proposal to post European customs agents at Gaza border points, with the agreement of both the Palestinian and Israeli sides.
