Multilateral negotiations should not replace bilateral tracks
Regional, Politics, 2/2/2000

Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said the heads of Arab delegations and Israel who are taking part in the multilateral negotiations in Russia have agreed on a timetable under which negotiations would be resumed on economic cooperation, issues of environment, refugees and waters by next April.

Moussa stressed that multilateral talks consolidate bilateral peace negotiations in the Middle East peace process and would also help build confidence among people of the Region.

Addressing Tuesday meetings of the Steering Committee of multilateral talks in the Russian capital, Moussa pointed out that Regional cooperation issues depend to a great extent on the achievement of real and sustained progress in the bilateral negotiations and on the continued existence of a positive and conducive environment in the peace process as a whole. "This requires a number of important elements, mainly the faithful and timely implementation of all signed agreements," he said.

Moussa thanked the cosponsors of the peace process in the Middle East for their relentless efforts in supporting the attainment of peace in the Region. He also thanked the Russian Federation for its initiative in hosting this meeting.

Moussa hoped that the Syrian-Israeli track would be resumed soon and that the negotiations on the Lebanese-Israeli track would also be reinitiated.

He said no party would take any unilateral step or measure that results in hindering the achievement of progress or that is detrimental to the creation of the desired atmosphere or in exacerbating current problems.

"In this vein, we call on the government of Israel to halt its policy on settlements and to freeze it totally. There must be no more expansion of settlements, confiscation of lands or issuing tenders for new projects. We must avoid the destructive effects of this policy on the entire peace process, bilateral as well as multilateral," he added.

"Egypt has always been committed to the achievement of comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East," Moussa said.

"We have also maintained that comprehensive peace requires also orienting the Region in the direction of normal relations, open borders and free movement of peoples and goods among its states,"he added.

"In this vein, we have been supportive of Regional cooperation efforts and keen on ensuring a positive and conducive environment for this purpose," Moussa said. "Let me assure you that our commitment and dedication remain unwavering and that we spare no effort to achieve this goal on the bilateral as well as the multilateral tracks," Moussa added.

"In this respect, we support the resumption of the different working groups of the tracks on the basis of an agreed timetable. In so doing, we must ensure that this resumption is devised and scheduled in a way that will allow it to contribute effectively to supporting the bilateral negotiations, and will guarantee that it can proceed in a sustainable and fruitful manner."

"On the other hand, attention should be given to the group on arms control and Regional security. This is a cardinal issue that relates to the core of the future of the Region, its security and its stability. No future Regional scheme can be completed without a security regime that tackles arms control matters, in particular the establishment of a zone free of all of mass destruction weapons in the Middle East, " Moussa said.

"This is a crucial endeavor for which planning must start as from now, through, inter alia, the ACRS Working Group. We therefore call, as a matter of urgency, for an agreement on a comprehensive agenda for this group that addresses all arms control issues. We especially call for a leading role by the cosponsors in this direction and for keeping the members of the Steering Group constantly apprised of the situation with a view to formulating the comprehensive agenda in a period that should not exceed three months," Moussa added.

"Moreover, we are supportive of the objective of restructuring the multilateral negotiations in order to increase their efficiency and effectiveness. In this regard, I will be making some concrete proposals in the next session, dedicated for this purpose," Moussa said.

"The Middle East peace process is at a crossroads. There is a historical opportunity to close, once and for ever, the file of Arab-Israeli animosity and confrontation. This goal can, and indeed should be attained within this year to ensure a secure peace for the future generation and that through principal of Land for peace, Palestinian statehood and equal security for all. There is no more time to waste," Moussa stressed

Moscow communiqué Meets Egypt's Demands,

Assistant Foreign Minister Sayed Qassem reiterated Egypt's firm stance vis-a-vis the Middle East multilateral talks, which started in Moscow earlier on Tuesday.

He asserted that achieving progress in bilateral negotiations is a precondition for the resumption of multilateral talks. Qassem said that Egypt agreed on attending Moscow's meeting following the resumption of Syrian-Israeli talks and the beginning of Palestinian-Israeli final-status negotiations.

"This leads to overcoming the obstacle that was hindering Egypt's participation in the multilateral talks," he added.

Qassem, at the same time, underlined that Regional economic cooperation would never be accomplished without realizing peace. On the results of yesterday's meeting, he pointed out that five ad hocs have been formed on Regional economic cooperation, environment, armament and Regional security, waters and refugees.

The diplomat indicated that many of the Egyptian demands were met in the communiqué, including progress achieved by the five ad hocs within six months. According to the communique, the waters panel will meet in Muscat on May 11-12, the Regional economic development committee will convene in Amman on May 8 and the environmental one in Tunisia on May 31.

Previous Stories:
  El-Husseini: unified Arab point of view in multilateral discussions   (2/1/2000)
  Moussa urges Israel to comply with commitments   (2/1/2000)
  Israel urged to join the NPT   (2/1/2000)

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