Comprehensive ME peace could be achieved within five years
Egypt-Israel, Politics, 5/18/2000

In an exclusive interview with "Al-Ahram El-Arabi" magazine Foreign Minister Amr Moussa asserted that the awareness is presently escalating in the Arab World to speed-up the convening of the Arab Summit, as the timing now is very adequate in the light of the present situation in the Arab world. The interview will be published in detail at "Al-Ahram El-Arabi" magazine.

Moussa said that Arrangements for convening the Arab Summit doesn't preclude the bilateral contacts and consultations on the various Arab points of view.

"Some Arab countries believe that it is imperative to hold the summit with immediate effect, while others see that it is better to hold it at a later stage," he added.

Moussa said that However there is an Arab accord and escalating awareness to have this summit convened now, and we've already exceeded the stage of deliberation, and the towering question now is the timing of the summit.

The Egyptian top diplomat called that Arabs shouldn't continue to be prisoners of the past, after the big crack of the second Gulf War, and the Iraqi invasion to Kuwait. He turned this as a big mistake, as Arab states and peoples should be aware enough of the significance of the ongoing international developments, and their direct impact on our region.

He denied that the peace process on the Syrian track has collapsed, pursuant to the failure of the US-Syrian Geneva Summit; it only passes what we may call a problem or a crisis.

Foreign Minister Amr Moussa pointed out that he cannot define a specific scenario of the nature of the Egyptian contacts and moves conducted in cooperation with the US administration to surmount the difficulties on the Syrian track.

The Syrian stance is quite obvious in respect of realizing comprehensive peace with Israel, based on the restoration of all territories. It is essential therefore to draw the borders in the light of Rabin's deposit.

The Minister announced that realizing comprehensive peace in the Middle East needs a period between one to five years, as this depends mainly on the Israeli cooperation and response to the principle of land-for-peace, especially in respect of the Palestinian issue.

In reply to a question about the hastiness of Palestinian Authority to declare the Palestinian State, despite the fact that more than 70 percent of the lands are still under Israeli control, the Minister replied that we have to wait until next September, but the Palestinian state should be declared for the Palestinian interest.

Regarding the situation in Sudan, he said that it is improving and heading towards normality, as it is not in the favor of Sudan to be isolated or insulated, and it was inevitable that such isolation comes to an end, an Egyptian statement said.

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