23 December 2007… The team of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is currently visiting Egypt, for the first time, headed by Ambassador Kiplagat, member of the Panel of Eminent Persons of the APRM, to prepare for the "Country Review Report" in various political, economic, and social fields. During the visit, the delegation held meetings with Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and of Legal Affairs and Parliamentary Councils. The delegation also met with the "National Committee", which is headed by Dr. Mufid Shehab and concerned with preparing the abovementioned Draft Country report in an extended work session. Assistant Foreign Minister and Coordinator of the National Committee, Ibrahim Ali Hassan stated that the visit aims at reviewing the arrangements for preparing a multi-phase Country Assessment Review Report, within the context of the Egyptian APRM membership. The APRM has been established in 2003 to exchange experience and knowledge among the APRM African member states, promote administration, inculcate the concepts of good governance, enhance democratic practice, respect for Human Rights, and improve administration methods in the economic, social and service fields. Ambassador Ibrahim Ali Hassan added that the delegation reviewed with the National Committee, which includes government representatives legislative councils, the private sector, and the civil society -- the work program for the upcoming stage to prepare the Country Self-Assessment Report. CSAR, there are currently 27 members in the African review mechanism who willingly acquired its membership, being convinced with its role in improving African (administrative) performance He indicated that the APRM has accomplished the preparations and discussions of the reports of the five member states: Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, and Algeria, while the review process is progressing in other 12 countries including Egypt. He also added that the head and members of the Review Team appreciated Egypt's serious abidance by the APRM targets and policies, and the arrangements taken to prepare the Country Report credibly and with transparency, and Egypt's keenness to provide all necessary facilities for the Review Team.  Assistant Minister, moreover, informed the team of the positive developments in Egypt in the political development, economic, and social fields, and praised Egypt's role in Africa both during the period of its struggling for political independence and support of the African liberation movement in 1960s, but also through its current support to African development efforts and endeavors to establish security and peace in Africa. Ambassador Hassan also said that according to the work program, the Review Team is determined to conduct other visits to Egypt in the next months to hold more meetings with representatives of governmental and non-governmental sectors, private sectors, and local government bodies within the framework of the preparation for Egypt's Country Review Report.