Egypt-US relations based on partnership
Egypt-USA, Politics, 3/21/2000

Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said there was a good chance for making peace in the Middle East despite ups and downs in the peace negotiations, especially the Palestinian and Syrian tracks.

He told the Egyptian and Arab communities in California yesterday that the region should be ready for post-peace challenges, adding that every possible effort was being made to ensure that the current negotiations result in a comprehensive and just peace.

Moussa, who is currently preparing for President Hosni Mubarak's visit to the US due on 25 March, encouraged the Arab communities in the US to network and create an Arab lobby to serve Arab causes.

"The purpose of this lobby is not to compete with other lobbies in the US, but to ensure that the Arab viewpoints are fairly and comprehensively presented to the American public opinion," he said.

Moussa also emphasized Egypt's unwavering support for just Arab causes, adding that Cairo was leading a campaign to lift sanctions on Iraq. He explained that the Iraqi people bear the brunt of these sanctions and that the principle of imposing indefinite sanctions was unacceptable.

"Egypt also supports the Palestinians, Syrians and Libyans in their efforts to regain their legitimate rights," he said.

Moussa indicated that the US was playing an active role in the peace talks asserting that no viable peace could be achieved without full Israeli withdrawal from Arab land. He called on Israel to stop planting obstacles in the course of negotiations and to comply with international resolutions. Moussa was asked to comment on the communal violence which broke out in the southern Egyptian village of al-Kosheh a few months ago. He said it was a very unfortunate incident treated on basis of citizenship not religious affiliations.

In a separate meeting with prominent Egyptian expatriates, Moussa explained the developments taking place in Egypt and exhorted them to keep close contact with their country.

He explained that the end of the Arab-Israeli conflict would usher in a new stage of competition in the spheres of technology and information, adding that Egyptian expatriates must be ready to assist their country in this competition.

Previous Stories:
  Moussa asserts importance of Mubarak's visit to Washington   (3/20/2000)
  Moussa in Washington today   (3/17/2000)
  On the meeting between Mubarak and Clinton   (3/16/2000)

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