Mubarak - Cook discussions
Egypt-UK, Politics, 1/22/2000

President Hosni Mubarak met with British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook on regional and international issues and the Egyptian-British ties.

Cook said Egypt and Britain attach great importance to a successful conclusion of the Middle East Peace Process.

Speaking to the press after meeting with President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo Thursday, Cook said their talks were held in a very friendly and warm atmosphere reflective of the very strong relationship between the two countries.

"Britain is now the largest investor in Egypt from outside the Arab world and has a very strong, growing and healthy trade with Egypt," which affirms the strong bilateral economic relationship, he added.

Egypt and Britain are committed to making sure they adopt the same measures to exchange dialogue between civilizations on grounds of their long standing cultures and civilizations, Cook said.

Discussions continued with Foreign Minister Amr Moussa on how Egypt and Europe can work together and can be supportive of taking full opportunities of the new gains for trade, investment and cooperation in the region, he said.

Cook said he reported to President Mubarak on the efforts made by Britain until securing an agreement on the new resolution in the UN Security Council on Iraq.

Such a resolution, according to Cook "has given Iraq the possibility for the suspension of sanctions" imposed on Iraq, "In return for progress on the task of removing mass destruction weapons in Iraq."

He termed this as "a new development" that has not "previously been available there for Iraq."

He also held the new UN Security Council resolution as an "opportunity" given to Saddam. "If he wishes to take it, then he will be seeing sanctions removed off Iraq," Cook said.

The British Foreign Minister warned that if Saddam "does not take that opportunity, or that new offer, then it will be clear that it is not the UN, but rather it is Saddam himself who chooses to maintain sanctions on Iraq.

On the Middle East Peace process, Cook said that the objective of his visit "is not to put pressure on one side or the other of the peace process, but to make sure that we (Britain) provide to them clear support."

Recalling his visit to refugee camps in Gaza strip, the British Foreign Minister said he was both "touched" and "moved."

Those in these camps "deserve a future in which Palestine is open to the world and open to trade with Europe," Cook added.

Moving again to Iraq, Cook expressed pride on the effort British diplomacy did over nine months in order to try and achieve a common position at the Security Council.

Asked to elaborate, the British Foreign Minister said this is "not vague." "It is quite clear and specific about the way forward for Iraq to secure suspension of sanctions in return for progress," he said.

Cook touted the new resolution, which established the UN monitoring, verification and inspection commission (UNMOVIC) instead of UNSCOM, and which may bring Rolf Ekeus to Iraq, as "a very fair offer to Iraq".

Egypt and Britain have voiced their condemnation of the Russian aggression on the Chechen people.

Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, at a joint press conference Thursday with the visiting British Foreign Secretary at the end of official talks between the two sides, Moussa said though Egypt shares Britain's rejection of the military onslaught against Chechens, such a stance does not mean a challenge to Russia's sovereignty over Chechnya.

But Russian sovereignty does not justify an aggression of such a scope that causes us great concern, he added.

Cook, voicing Britain's deep regret over the suffering of the Chechen people under Russian attacks, urged Moscow to renounce the military option and allow in humanitarian aid to he Chechen people.

Cook also urged Russia to adopt a different strategy that would ensure a peaceful settlement to the crisis, through the participation of the organization of security and cooperation in Europe.

Responding to a question on the role Europe and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) could play vis-a-vis the Chechen crisis, and whether it was possible to come up with a much more direct protest formula, Moussa, citing general protest against what was going on in Chechnya pointed out to the disconcerting outcome of last month's visit to Dagestan and Chechen refugees sites by an OIC troika.

Islamic countries will exert their utmost to resolve the tragedy, he added.

Cook said the Chechen question not only was causing concern to the Islamic world, but also to the European Union.

At the Helsinki meetings, the EU had severely condemned Russia's actions, according to Cook, who added that the union had decided to reconsider economic assistance to Russia.

He said next week's Brussels meeting of the European Council will discuss prospects for diverting the aid program from Russia to the Chechens.

Drawn on London's stance on the rejection by a number of Security Council permanent members of nominating Rolf Ekeus as head of weapons inspectors in Iraq, Cook said Ekeus could only redo his job after securing the support of all Security Council permanent members.

Other names, he added, are being nominated for the mission. Cook urged rejecting countries to help with finding another man for the job.

Asked if he had discussed in Cairo the issue involving the presence of a number of Egyptian extremists in Britain, Cook said the matter was not dealt with in a specific way, but that dialogue between the two countries on that score was continuing.

Cook said Britain wants to cooperate with Egypt in confronting terrorism.

Cook, replying to a question on whether Egyptian-British talks had tackled the Sudanese problem and the relevant Egyptian Libyan initiative, said they did and hoped the cease-fire agreement in Sudan would become permanent.

He added that Britain, being a friend of the Inter Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and which also sponsors an initiative on Sudan, pressed for sustaining dialogue on establishing peace in Sudan.

On his talks with Moussa on the Egypt-Libya proposal, Cook argued in favor of integrating both initiatives as this would furnish better chances for peace.

On the question of some western countries casting aspersion on Arab and Islamic states on suspicion of seeking to obtain nuclear weapons, while at the same time pretending not to notice Israel's nuclear arsenal, Cook said British policy does not encourage the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the region and that his country supports all agreements concluded in this regard.

Britain did not approve of any country seeking to be an exception in this matter, he said.

The British Secretary, voicing the European side's great interest in the economic aspect of cooperation with Mid Eastern countries, believed that a prosperous economy could be ensured through peace and stability.

Cook said all parties concerned should endeavor to make the peace process successful on all tracks.

Moussa said he will attend meetings of the multilateral negotiations steering committee in Moscow despite the negative developments on the Syrian and Palestinian tracks.

The meetings will provide an opportunity to review the obstacles facing bilateral talks, he added.

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Dr. Mohamed Sayed Tantawi Thursday received British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and his delegation.

Cook thanked the Grand Imam for the warm welcome he received.

"I came to visit Al-Azhar Al-Sharif full of appreciation and love to this ancient religious institution," Cook told Sheikh Tantawi.

Cook conveyed the greetings of British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Head of the Anglican church to the Grand Imam.

The civilization of Britain in particular and of Europe in general owes much to the Islamic civilization, he said, adding that Islam laid the intellectual foundations of western civilization.

"Much of the basis of our civilization is rooted in Islamic learning," he said.

The Grand Imam, in turn, said the Islam considers all people to be the offspring of one mother and father and that Allah has created us to know each other and deal with each other, not to despise each other.

In that spirit, we must work together to improve our understanding of each other and open a dialogue to near the gaps, he said, adding that Allah is the judge and no one should judge the other on the basis of one's creed.

Dr. Tantawi rejected the idea of "the clash of civilizations)' and he said that it should be replaced by "The cooperation of civilizations'' as push civilization benefits other civilizations.

Furthermore, Cook, in dialogue with the officials of Egyptian Foreign Ministry Arab leagues and opinion leaders yesterday said Britain and its European partners appreciate President Mubarak's efforts to forward the peace process in the Middle East.

Egypt played an effective role to create the chances for peace, he said.

Egypt, throughout its history, is an example of tolerance and understanding among the religions which shape its heritage, Cook said, noting that Egypt was, and still a multi-religion and culture country.

British Foreign Minister left Cairo yesterday after a one day visit.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak receives Cook   (1/20/2000)
  Mubarak, force for progress stability in ME   (1/20/2000)
  British foreign secretary to arrive in Cairo tonight   (1/19/2000)

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