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SV AND SV: Cairo airport and sign (2 shots)
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SV PAN: Lebanese Foreign Minister Mr Butros down aircraft steps and met by Egyptian Foreign Minister Ismail Fahmi and other officials.
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CU: cameraman
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SV INTERIOR: Mr Butros talks to newsmen in Arabic.
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Initials RH/0140



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Fierce artillery exchange between Lebanese rightists and Palestinian strongholds in south Lebanon were reported on Thursday (30 June). The reports came shortly after the Lebanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Fuad Butros, went to Egypt to discuss security in his country.

SYNOPSIS: Egypt has played a major role in previous peace settlements in Lebanon. Mr. Butros arrived at Cairo airport on Wednesday (29 June) and was welcomed by his Egyptian counterpart, Ismail Fahmi. Egypt has expressed concern at the fighting in southern Lebanon and the alleged participation of Israel in the confrontation there. The Egyptian War Minister, Mohammed Gamassi warned on Sunday (26 June) that his country was watching events in Israel and that Egyptian forces would prove themselves in any new conflict with the Jewish state.

Mr. Butros said that he carried a message for Egyptian President Anwar Sadat from the Lebanese head of state, President Elias Sarkis. He told newsmen recent events in his country meant that the situation there had to be looked at again by the Arab world to see what could be done to achieve complete security there. These were the problems he would be discussing in Cairo, he said. But he added that the situation should not be looked at pessimistically.

Mr. Butros said the basic problem in Lebanon today was Israel's presence on its southern border and the particularly strong conflict that existed between the Palestinians and the Israelis.