Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met with his visiting Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharyan Saturday to probe the developments in the Middle East and Central Asia, a senior Egyptian official said.

Mubarak and Kocharyan discussed the Iranian nuclear file, situation in Iraq and the Gulf, the Egyptian official MENA news agency quoted Presidential spokesman Suleiman Awwad as saying.

Armenia, which shares its southern borders with Iran, was particularly interested in Tehran's nuclear file, he added.

Turning to the situation in Central Asia, the two leaders focused on the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh and Mubarak called for a peaceful settlement for the dispute to bring about stability to Central Asia, Awwad added.

In addition, the two presidents discussed means to promote bilateral cooperation, especially in fields of trade exchange and joint investments. Egypt and Armenia are expected to sign a number of agreements and cooperation protocols in various sectors, the spokesman said.

Kocharyan, who arrived here earlier in the day, is on a three- day visit to Egypt, during which he will also meet with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa on regional issues, including efforts to make a breakthrough in the stalled Mideast peace process.

Egypt, the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic ties with Armenia after it announced independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, has constant coordination and contacts with Armenia at international forums, especially the UN, according to the spokesman.

Source: Xinhua