By Rob Moritz
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — The most compelling problems in the Middle East, from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to prospects of a nuclear-armed Iran, require full engagement by the United States to solve, Egypt’s ambassador to the U.S. said today.

“We are encouraged by signs of determination by the (Obama) administration,” Ambassador Sameh Shoukry said during a speech to students at the Clinton School of Public Service.

“These challenges have a wide-ranging impact both on the region and beyond,” Shoukry said. “This has led us to an obvious conclusion, in that positive engagement with the U.S. and rallying behind the international community is crucial to address these challenges.”

He said the U.S.-Egyptian partnership is strong, and he encouraged President Obama to move forward in efforts to help negotiate a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Shoukry also said Egypt supports Obama’s desire to “seek a world free of nuclear weapons,” and he warned that Iran’s development of nuclear weapons would set off a dangerous arms race in the Middle East.

Shoukry was appointed Egypt’s ambassador to the United States in September 2008. He previously served as Egypt’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, as well as ambassador to Austria.

The ambassador was in Arkansas this week as the Arkansas Arts Center prepared for the opening of its largest event ever, the World of the Pharaohs exhibition featuring more than 200 artifacts from ancient Egypt.

Shoukry joined Gov. Mike Beebe and other dignitaries at a special premiere Tuesday night. The exhibition, sponsored by Harriet and Warren Stephens and Stephens Inc., opens Friday and runs through July 5, 2010.