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SV President of united Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed, meets Simon and U.S. delegation at Buttain Palace
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SV PAN DOWN FROM Arab officials TO Sheikh Zayed talking to U.S. Treasury secretary Mr. William Simon
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SV Sheikh Zayed and Mr. Simon seated talking
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Government building in Cairo
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SV INTERIOR PAN FROM Mr. Simon TO Egyptian Foreign Minister Mr. Fahmi and other officials
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SV Officials taking their seats (2 shots)
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SV ZOOM IN Mr. Fahmi speaking to officials (2 shots)
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SV Mr. Simon signing agreement
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SV Egyptian Prime Minister General Salem shaking hands with Mr. Simon
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Initials CL/1624



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The United States Treasury Secretary, Mr. William Simon, had major talks on the Middle East on Thursday (4 March) in Abu Dhabi with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nhayyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi.

Mr. Simon, who was on a tour of the Middle East, later flew onto Egypt where, on Saturday (6 March) he had talks in Cairo with the Egyptian Prime Minister, General Mamdouh Muhammad Salem, and the Egyptian Foreign Minister and deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Muhammad Ismail Fahmi. During the talks Mr. Simon signed an agreement whereby the United States will supply Egypt with 500,000 tons of wheat and flour.

Egypt was the last stage of Mr. Simon's Middle East tour that included visits to Saudi Arabia, Syria and Israel. He left Cairo on Sunday (7 March) for Rome where he will have economic talks with the Italian Government.

While Mr. Simon was in Abu Dhabi, an official communique was issued by the United Arab Emirates Information Ministry which said that talks had taken place on a variety of issues. These included trade and economy -- "and the restoration of a just and permanent peace in the Middle East".

The signing of the wheat agreement with Egypt formed only part of a crowded agenda for Mr. Simon and his Egyptian hosts. After talks with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Mr. Simon announced a second agreement to provide Egypt with aid totalling 1,855,000,000 U.S. dollars (???27,500,000 sterling) over the next two years.

Reuters quoted economic experts in Cairo as saying that they doubted whether aid alone would cure Egypt's economic problems.

Before leaving Egypt, Mr. Simon described President Sadat as a man of tremendous vision and courage.

SYNOPSIS: The Persian Gulf -- Abu Dhabi -- and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Shoikh Zayed Bin Sultan al-Nhayyan meets the United States Tr???ry Secretary, Mr. William Simon. The two men held talks which covered trade and the situation in the Middle East.

Mr. Simon was on the final stage of a Middle East tour that included Saudi Arabia, Syria and Israel before visiting Egypt.

In Cairo, Mr. Simon had talks with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mr. Ismail Fahmi and other Government leaders including President Anwar Sadat. Mr. Simon also announced an agreement whereby the United States will provide Egypt with aid totalling 1,855,000,000 U.S. dollars over the next two years.

The move will help Egypt's economy. However economic experts doubted whether aid alone will cure Egypt's critical finances.

In another move to help Egypt, Mr. Simon signed a deal for the United States to provide 500,000 tens of wheat. He also held talks with the Egyptian Prime Minister, General Mamdouh Muhammad Salem.