Mubarak gives directives for repairing Lebanese power plants
Egypt-Lebanon, Politics, 2/22/2000

"President Hosni Mubarak has decided that repairing the Lebanese power plants damaged by the recent Israeli raids should start immediately," Information Minister Safwat Al-Sherif said on Monday.

"The President gave directives to Premier Atef Ebeid to form a specialized working team under the supervision of the electricity minister and to prepare necessary equipment to be shipped immediately to Lebanon," Sherif added.

The reconstruction of the Lebanese power plants would take from 45 to 60 days. The two governments are coordinating efforts so that the working team would start its mission early next week.

Sherif, in an interview with "Al-Shark radio in Paris, said peace with Egypt does not mean that Egypt adopts a neutral attitude when there is an aggression on an Arab country. It is a peace which strengthens and supports the Egyptian role to serve Arab goals."

Sherif described the visit of President Mubarak to Lebanon, as the first by an Egyptian President to Lebanon in this delicate situation, as a message to the whole world to draw attention to Israeli violations and its aggressions on south Lebanon.

Sherif referred to a statement made by President Mubarak that this aggression affects the peace process on all tracks. It deepens Arab hatred to Israel and creates an improper atmosphere for movement on the Palestinian, Syrian or Lebanese tracks.

President Mubarak's visit to Lebanon was also an Egyptian declaration of support to sisterly country Lebanon.

It was also a declaration that Egypt sides with the rebuilding of the Lebanese infrastructure, which has been recently destroyed by Israeli raids.

He said that President Mubarak's visit to Lebanon was successful and showed that Egypt supports return of (occupied) Lebanese land and the call that Israel should unconditionally withdraw to the borders of June 4, 1967.

On the attitude of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak towards the peace process and whether this process could continue in such an atmosphere," Sherif said that Arab solidarity comes at which reflects this well, are in the forefront of priorities. The Arab world is determined to achieve peace that based on the full restoration of rights, adherence to the land-for-peace principle, application of all UN and Security Council resolutions.

These are terms of reference and there should be adherence to what Israel signed to return to the negotiating table.

Sherif referred to Egypt's experience in negotiating with Israel to restore its national soil in full.

He said that Egypt perused this process for 12 years and adhered to its principle, namely to insist that (occupied) land should be restored in full without ceding an inch.

On the difference between former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the present Israeli Premier Ehud Barak," Sherif said that there is a difference in the electoral program of each of them.

The intentions of Barak are in continuation of those of late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. But there could be some internal or party pressures, which Barak is facing.

"Barak has good intentions," the minister said but the important thing is that these intentions should be translated into tangible facts.

"The important thing is not merely to return to the negotiating tables, rather to take real steps on the road of peace," Sherif concluded.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak's visit aims at preventing future Israeli attacks against Lebanon   (2/21/2000)
  Egypt reconstructs destroyed Lebanese electric stations   (2/21/2000)
  Egyptian, Lebanese presidents call for Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon, Golan   (2/21/2000)

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

Search