June 7, 2009

Q: Would you brief us about your meeting please?

Under Secretary Burns: First, I am delighted to be back in Cairo especially a few days after President Obama’s historic visit here, a visit which reflected not only the warmth of the Egyptian hospitality but also the significance that the US attaches to developments in this region. President Obama spoke of a new beginning in relations between United States and the Muslim world, and I think there also is an opportunity before us for a fresh start in relations between the United States and Egypt. It was very much in that spirit that I was happy to take part through out the course of today’s strategic dialogue with the counterparts and colleagues in the Egyptian foreign ministry. We covered a wide range of subjects, global issues, regional issues, bilateral issues, all I think in a spirit of mutual respect and mutual interest and I look very much to building on that.

Q: Is there any differences between the Egyptian view and the American one regarding the Iranian or Palestinian issue?

U/S: The United States and Egypt share many many interests throughout this region, whether it is on Arab-Israeli issues, whether it is on our mutual interest helping to stabilize Iraq, working together in Sudan, but of course from time to time we have differences in views. It is natural and healthy for partners to have that. But I think we share very strong common concern about the behavior of the Iranian government and our commitment to working together. As president Obama has made clear, we are determined to engage directly with Iran and diplomatically along with our partners to try to address those kinds of concerns and, hopefully, resolve them.

Q: Is there a time limit for the Americans to give us their proposal concerning the peace process?

Under Secretary Burns: As the President has said and as Special Envoy Mitchell has said, he is back in the region as we speak, is that we feel a real sense of urgency about trying to work with our partners in the region to make some progress in the direction of peace between Palestinians and Israelis, and between Arabs and Israelis more generally. It is long overdue and I think that this is something that the region does really need.

Thank you very much.