Serious retreat in Middle East peace ; Italy - Egypt issues
Egypt-Regional-Italy, Politics, 2/17/2000

Addressing a press conference with his Italian counterpart Lamberto Dini, Moussa said that the Italians felt the serious retreat in the Middle East peace process.

"Syrian-Israeli peace negotiations have recently bogged down after a brief restart in Washington last December. Palestinians and Israelis, meanwhile, missed on February 13 a target deadline to reach a framework on a final peace agreement," Moussa said.
 
In statements to reporters following Mubarak-Ciampi meeting, Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said economic cooperation with Italy is open-ended, adding Italy would share other countries in clearing mines in Egypt.

"Wednesday's round of Egyptian-Italian talks discusses the special relationship binding Mediterranean countries, the Barcelona process, the Middle East peace process and its current impasse," Moussa told the press.

"The talks also addressed bilateral economic ties within the framework of Mediterranean cooperation, the increase of trade exchange and the activation of Italian investments in Egypt," he said.

"The trade balance with Egypt is high, but tilts down when it comes to Egyptian exports," he added.

Concerning the elimination of landmines, Moussa said Italy and other countries can contribute to it, adding that the issue was tabled on the Egyptian-Italian agenda.

"Economic cooperation between Egypt and Italy has wide prospects, and the ambassadors on both sides have been instructed to follow it up," he said.

"Ebeid attended today's talks and has discussed economic cooperation with Dini, and has expressed hope that Egyptian-Italian economic, investment and trade relationship would be constantly activated," Moussa added.

Moussa said the final discussions on the Egyptian-European partnership agreement will begin soon on the official and public levels towards the conclusion of this agreement.

On Middle East peace, he said European or global action will come at one point if the deterioration persists. He did not think, he said, the issue would be left to be subjected to such maneuvers without international interference, including European and Arab.

"In fact, Egypt is closely following up the situation and within the past two days it held various Arab contacts," he added. "The matter is not one of promises or honeyed talk, but the situation must be defined at this time, now that peace has become overdue," he said.

"The retreat that has taken place is a grave one and very soon the situation has to be defined to show what road one is taking," he added. "Mere promises have become unacceptable," Moussa said.

Asked on whether they discussed the Afro-European Summit which is to be held in Cairo in March, Moussa said the issue was not raised. "This Summit will be probed with the current EU presidency," he said. Portugal is the current president of the EU rotational presidency.

On the Italian tourist inflow to Egypt, Moussa said half a million Italians visit Egypt every year but this figure does not make up for the trade deficit between the two countries.

Asked about recent statements by Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy, in which he said that Syria has pushed the peace process into a vicious circle, Moussa said this kind of talk is not believed any longer by anyone.

"Israel is the party which exerts efforts to stall the talks and its attempts in this respect have become very clear. Israel is making promises but under these promises there is but mere vacuum," he said.

"You cannot go on fooling all the people all the time," he added. "The glass is now full of honeyed talk and promises and this is not enough. To believe Israeli promises, Tel-Aviv has to delineate borders with Syria, to halt attacks on Lebanon and withdraw from it," he expounded.

"Also Israel has to move on the Palestinian track according to signed agreements and commitments," he said. "We were asked to show Arab flexibility, but Israel does not deliver on its promises," he said.

On February 13, a framework agreement was expected to be reached but nothing materialized on this date. "Israelis had insisted on this date but the day has just passed without reaching any agreement," he said.

Moussa met yesterday with Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini for discussing the grave deterioration of the peace process.

Previous Stories:
  Moussa gets a message from Yemeni counterpart   (2/16/2000)
  Italian president starts visit to Cairo   (2/15/2000)
  Mubarak honors Egyptian peacekeepers   (2/15/2000)
  Moussa: Egypt in communication on landmines   (2/14/2000)
  Italian president due to arrive in Cairo on Tuesday   (2/12/2000)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search