By Xinhua
Cairo : Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Thursday reiterated the importance of good preparations for a U.S.-sponsored peace conference to be held later this year in the United States.
Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Wafaa Baseem made the remarks during her talks with visiting Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Sultanov, the official MENA news agency reported.
Baseem said that Egypt calls for paving the way for restarting the peace process between the Israeli and Palestinian sides to reach a fair settlement to the Palestinian cause.
The two also discussed the latest developments in the region, MENA added.
Sultanov, who arrived here late Wednesday, is currently on a regional tour, which also includes the Palestinian territories, Israel and Jordan.
The U.S.-sponsored Mideast peace conference is scheduled to be held in Annapolis, Maryland of the United States in late November or early December.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian National Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas are expected to meet on Friday in Jerusalem to discuss progress in the talks between the Israeli and Palestinians negotiating teams ahead of the Annapolis summit.