Agreement between Egypt and Europe, concluded
Egypt-European Union, Politics, 1/19/2000

President Mubarak received yesterday the European Union delegation, headed by Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Gama, whose country is currently heading the European Union.

The meeting was attended by Javier Solana, the General Secretary of the European Union, the representative of European Union for Security and Defense Affairs, and the director of the political desk at the Portuguese Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Miguel Moratinos, envoy for the peace process, and the Ambassadors of Portugal and European Union to Cairo.

Emerging from the meeting, attended by Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, Minister Gama said that he exchanged viewpoints with President Mubarak on the Middle East peace process and means of boosting relations between Egypt and the European Union.

The delegation expressed the EU deep concern over the latest developments in the peace process and hoped that the parties involved would be able in the near future to overcome obstacles that obstruct progress in the peacemaking.

"The two sides approved that an Egyptian-EU cooperation agreement be concluded soon," Gama said. He declined to speak about the Afro-European Summit, but said that he will discuss with his Egyptian and Algerian counterparts preparations for this summit which is to be held in April coming.

In reply to a query on the European role in the peace process, Gama pointed out he could say, after his contacts and meetings held over the past three days in Syria, Israel, the Palestinian self-rule areas and Jordan, that the EU role in the process is not that of a negotiator.

"The regional role of the EU is to cooperate with the parties concerned. The EU will offer further support to all parties in the future. The EU efforts, through diplomatic contacts and exchange of viewpoints, helped overcome obstacles facing the peace process," he said.

He added that he discussed in detail with President Mubarak means of enhancing cooperation between Egypt and Europe and that a considerable progress has been made in various fields of joint cooperation.

A four-member meeting, attended by Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, Portuguese Jaime Gama, the current Chairman of the European Union, Youssef Al-Youcefi, the Algerian Foreign Minister, and Javier Solana the Chairman of European Commission, was held at the Foreign Ministry.

Talks dealt with a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern, mainly the Middle East peace process and its developments on various tracks, conditions in Iraq, and the situation in Sudan in the light of Egyptian-Libyan efforts to promote national interests and protect Sudan's stability and territorial integrity.

The talks also tackled the Barcelona process, Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, Egyptian-Portuguese cooperation in particular and Euro-Egyptian cooperation in general.

Moussa said the meeting took up the issue of the Euro-African Summit slated in Cairo for April. The summit will be jointly organized by the Organization of African Unity and the EU.

Asked if there are problems hindering the convocation of the Euro-African Conference, Moussa said there were not any.

Responding to a question on his assessment of the European and Egyptian roles in the Mideast peace process, Gama said his visit to the region comes at a sensitive time either with regard to the Palestinian-Israeli or Syrian-Israeli tracks.

"An EU delegation has been briefed on the stances of various parties. The EU would consequently evolve its own stance in this regard. The EU officials would receive the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Brussels following his visits to Cairo and Washington. The EU would participate in meetings of the multilateral negotiations steering committee in Moscow. This, confirms the EU's support for the regional peace process and negotiations since they started," Gama said.

According to Gama, the EU is looking forward to preparing a special framework for a deep European partnership after establishing comprehensive peace in the region.

The Portuguese Foreign Minister voiced regret over the failure to implement signed agreements in accordance with set timetables. He urged the parties concerned to return to negotiations to ensure effective commitment to timetables.

Gama expressed appreciation of the current EU-Egypt cooperation. Gama asserted the European aspects of cooperation between the EU and Egypt, such as the Barcelona process, either at the ministerial meeting level or at the coming Barcelona Summit, slated also for this year.

On whether Morocco would attend the Cairo-hosted European-African Summit Conference, especially after that Rabat had frozen its membership at the Organization of African Unity, Moussa made clear that it would be impossible to hold the Summit without Morocco's participation, adding that Algeria, currently heading OAU, insisted on having Rabat at the Summit.

Gama said the subject of the Summit was discussed with Egypt, in the presence of the Algerian Foreign Minister. Gama said the EU is dealing cautiously with the question and advised patience, without delving into useless details at the moment.

Answering a query on Egypt's viewing of the nomination of Rolf Ekeus to head the UN Inspection Commission in Iraq, Moussa said in the light of the rejection by France, Russia and Iraq, Egypt hopes the nomination of Ekeus will not be the beginning of other steps ultimately to bring Richard Butler back to head the Commission.

Asked on Libya's request to join the Barcelona process, Gama wanted first some clarifications from Tripoli on its commitment to needed requirements in this respect. Gama, however, frowned on Libya's drive to prevent representatives of the Palestinian Authority and Israel from participating in the Barcelona process. Moussa made clear that Libya wanted to air reservations about their participation.

Moussa said Arab and international public opinion is seeking clarifications as to the long-running UN sanctions on Iraq. Clarifications are also needed regarding requested preconditions for lifting the nine-year-old UN embargo, he added.

On whether the postponement of Israel's peace talks with Syria and Palestine would impact preparations for the meeting of the multilateral talks steering committee, due in Moscow in February, Moussa said that the present situation on the Mideast peace scene could overshadow Moscow's meetings.

Taking up Egypt's participation in the multilateral talks, Moussa called for dealing with the issue objectively, warning against over simplification of matters.

Asked whether Cairo had been briefed by Damascus on the latest developments in talks with Israel, Moussa pointed out that Egypt was closely observing what was going on the Syrian track.

Previous Stories:
  European Union delegation discusses peace process developments with Mubarak   (1/18/2000)
  Moussa confers with Moratinos on Mideast peace process   (12/17/1999)
  Egypt participates in Euro-Mediterranean meeting concerning Barcelona declaration today   (12/16/1999)

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