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    Map of Egypt
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    QUICK FACTS: EGYPT

    Size: 1,001,450 square kilometers

    Population: 80,335,036
    Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni), 90 percent; Coptic, 9 percent; other Christian, 1 percent
    Life expectancy: 72 years
    Languages: Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes
    Ethnic groups: Egyptian, 98 percent; Berber, Nubian, Bedouin, and Beja, 1 percent; Greek, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French), 1 percent
    Population below poverty line: 20 percent
    Literacy: 91 percent

    (Source: U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, World Factbook 2008)



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    Egypt

    Waging Peace
    Mediating Conflict

    The Camp David Accords of 1978 were a major achievement of the Carter administration. President Carter has continued his deep interest in Middle East peace since leaving the White House, and Carter Center staff have closely followed events in the region since the Center's founding in 1982.

    In November 1983, the first Middle East Consultation was held at The Carter Center, co-chaired by former U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford.

    In March 1987, President Carter traveled throughout the Middle East, meeting with heads of state. On the basis of this trip, The Carter Center hosted in 1987 an unprecedented Middle East Consultation attended by representatives from Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Syria, and the Palestinian community as well as officials from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.

    In March 1990, President and Mrs. Carter returned to the region, meeting with heads of state and leading political figures in Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Israel, and the West Bank to discuss the Middle East peace process.

    During the last decade, as part of the Carter Center's ongoing efforts to support peace, democracy, and human rights in the Middle East, President Carter has led several missions to the region, including visits to Egypt and meetings with Egyptian officials in neighboring countries.  These consultations reflect President Carter's sustained commitment to securing a comprehensive peace in the region.

    Finally, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Camp David Accords in 2003, U.S., Israeli, and Egyptian negotiators from the Camp David meetings met with President Carter in Washington, D.C. The leaders discussed lessons learned for peacemaking and how they can be applied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict today.