Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit and his Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni reviewed ongoing efforts to re-launch the long-stalled Mideast peace process during a telephone conversation on Saturday, the official MENA news agency reported.

During the call made by Livni, Abul Gheit underlined the importance of resuming talks over all problems which are obstructing a final settlement between the Palestinians and Israelis, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alaa Hadidi said.

"Both sides should be encouraged to re-engage in political peace talks and stop hinging their tackling of final-status settlement issues on the implementation of the first phase of the roadmap (peace plan)," Abul Gheit was quoted by Hadidi as saying.

Hadidi added that Abul Gheit and Livni agreed to arrange a visit to Cairo by the Israeli Foreign Ministry's secretary general for more detailed talks on Egyptian stand and issues connected with bilateral ties.

The conversation came as German Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled to hold talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak later in the day with reviving Mideast peace process atop their agenda.

Source: Xinhua