Egyptian -Russian relations, strong
Egypt-Russia, Politics, 2/3/2000

Foreign Minister Amr Moussa yesterday said Egyptian-Russian relations were strong and could be developed further through more cooperation and exchange of views.

"Although the relationship is solid, it is not free of differences in viewpoints on some issues, thus making constructive and frank consultations necessary," Moussa Said.

He added that he had intensive discussions with Acting President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

"Any peace settlement, Moussa said, must end with three or four clear matters, beginning with Israeli withdrawal from the Arab territories under UN Security Council resolution 242 in both its letter and spirit and in accordance with the land-for-peace principle.

Secondly, he referred to the establishment of a virtual and not de forma Palestinian state, and thirdly to the solving objectively of the refugees question within the framework provided in the United Nations, namely the right either of return or compensations," the Foreign Minister added.

Moving to the fourth matter, he underlined the need to view the security issue in the Middle East in a comprehensive way.

Emphasizing, the peace process should eventually get to establishing peaceful ties between the Arabs and Israel, he underscored the need to pay high attention to such questions as the nonproliferation of the weapons of mass destruction.

In reply to a question Egypt's top diplomat said Arab Foreign Ministers met Tuesday night with their Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov and they expressed deep concern over the present situation in the war-torn Chechnya. "They had their talks crystallized on a political solution in Chechnya, underscoring its importance and the need to end military operations against the innocent Chechen people, he said.

"On his turn, Ivanov expounded on Moscow's stance towards this issue," Moussa added. Asked on the role Russia could play in the peace march in the Middle East, Moussa noted that Russia is one of the peace cosponsors and has an important role to play vis-a-vis the cause.

"Russia's ties with the Arab World and the Mideast States are deeply-rooted ones, something which helps Moscow in its contacts with parties of the conflict. Russia also enjoys good relations with Israel and Russian immigrants who live therein," he added.

"Russia has its own playing cards and the present stage of the peace drive requires the efforts of all," he said spelling out Egypt's welcome of the Russian role.

On Europe's role in resolving the Mideast peace problem, Moussa solicited European participation in this regard and said Europe's role was not only important in economic terms, but also politically crucial.

He recalled the key European stances regarding the political part of the Mideast peace process at a time when Israel was rejecting negotiations or peace during former Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu's tenure.

Moussa reiterated that the European role did not clash with that of the two cosponsors of the peace process. It should rather add to it.

He referred to the relevant roles played by the US, Russia, Europe and Egypt as active ones. He asserted the need for Israel to have the political will and the ability to honor its commitments.

Moussa, Ivanov Examine Mideast, Bilateral Ties

Moussa and Ivanov on Wednesday examined the future of the Middle East peace process and bilateral relations as well as Russian-Arab and Russian-Mideast ties.

Moussa, Putin Discuss Chechnya

Egypt Ambassador to Russia Reda Ahmed Shehata said that Tuesday's meeting between Moussa and Putin dealt mainly with the developments of the situation in Chechnya.

He said that during the meeting, held on the sidelines of the Middle east multilateral talks, Moussa conveyed to the Russian leader Egypt's profound concern over the devastation and humanitarian sufferings in Chechnya.

The Egyptian Ambassador added that the Russian leadership showed considerable interest in Egypt's viewpoint on the Chechen problem especially as it was crystallized in coordination with the rest of the Arab states.

Shehata pointed out that Moussa urged the Russian, leadership to find out a peaceful political solution to the conflict in Chechnya.

However, the Ambassador reaffirmed that policies adopted by Egypt in particular and the Arab Nation in general are firmly based on the principle of nonintervention in the internal affairs of other countries.

Previous Stories:
  Message from Russian President to Egyptian counterpart on Middle East peace   (12/20/1999)
  Fair for Russian products in Cairo   (11/17/1999)
  Commencing the works of the Arab-Russian discussion in Cairo   (11/2/1999)

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