ROME: President Hosni Mubarak met Italy s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Thursday as the Middle Eastern leader began a three-country European tour which will also take in Germany and Austria. Mubarak paid a courtesy visit to President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi shortly after his arrival in Rome at the start of a 24-hour visit, before heading into discussions with Berlusconi. The two leaders were to hold a press conference following their talks in the afternoon. Mubarak is a regular visitor to Europe and is seen as a key reference point in EU-Arab relations. The talks with Berlusconi, and with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday, were expected to focus on the troubled situation in Iraq, international disquiet over Iran s nuclear program and the Middle East peace process following Hamas victory in Palestinian elections. It is Mubarak s fourth visit to Rome since Berlusconi s election in 2001. The president is the most prominent Middle Eastern leader to visit Europe in the wake of Muslim outrage over the controversial Prophet Mohammed drawings, first published in a Danish newspaper. He is scheduled to head to Berlin on Friday, and the Austrian capital on Saturday. Italian newspapers said he would return to Rome for talks at the Vatican on Monday with Pope Benedict XVI. The Vatican did not confirm the reports Thursday. AFP
Mubarak holds talks with Berlusconi in Rome
