Mubarak meets Annan on peace process
Egypt, Politics, 6/19/2000

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak will receive today UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. They will address a number of issues pertaining to the Middle East peace process and the situation in Lebanon.

Speaking to reporters following a one-hour meeting with Annan late Sunday, Foreign Minister Amr Moussa described their talks as "very constructive".

Moussa said they took up a number of issues of mutual interest, foremost among which were the Middle East peacemaking drive, the situation in Lebanon and the long-running UN sanctions on Iraq.

They also exchanged views on the UN reform and possible expansion of the UN Security Council membership.

Moussa paid tribute to the role-played by the UN Chief.

On Lebanon's assertion that Israel is still occupying positions inside the south despite its claim of an all-out pullback, Annan recalled that he had presented his report on the issue to the UN Security Council few days ago.

"Looking into such violations is the responsibility of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)," Annan said.

"Once the borderline between Lebanon and Israel is demarcated, any Israeli land, air or sea breaches will be registered by the UNIFIL as violations of Lebanonís sovereignty," Annan said.

"Our forces are working in conjunction with the Lebanese to investigate any such violations," said the UN Chief.

Annan hailed the Lebanese-Israeli cooperation with the UN forces, asserting that the UN is about to finish demarcation of the borderline between the two countries.

The UN Chief voiced hope new progress would be made during the forthcoming Security Council meeting on verifying Israelís withdrawal from south Lebanon.

Annan made it clear that the proposed plan is that the UNIFIL would start operating along the Israeli border when he presents his report to the UNSC.

The Lebanese government has demanded to deploy its forces in all the liberated areas in the south, he said, noting that some 500 to 1000 UNIFIL peacekeepers have already been deployed in the said areas.

Asked of the Lebanese stand in light of his recent phone call with Lebanese Prime Minister Selim Al-Hoss, Moussa recalled phoning Hoss ahead of his meeting with Annan.

"We are seriously taking the Lebanese stand into consideration," said Moussa.

"When the Secretary General meets with the President of Lebanon, the Prime Minister and other high officials, I believe things will be further clarified," said Moussa.

"We hope and we trust that it would be a very positive outcome," he added.

"What is happening in Lebanon is not a dispute. I hope it is just a hiccup that will be resolved soon," Annan said.

Annan said that the mission of the UN team is not to verify any pullback but rather to look into Lebanese complaints.

Asked about daily reports on the increasing sufferings of the Iraqi people, Annan said the Iraqi issue was addressed during his meeting with Moussa.

He made it clear that international sanctions have led to more sufferings of the Iraqis, deeming them an embarrassment to the UN.

"Only the UN Security Council could determine whether Iraq had fully complied with UN resolutions," said Annan.

He voiced hope that a way for more Iraqi-UN cooperation would be established in order to get sanctions suspended.

Asked about statements made by Iraqi Trade Minister Mahdi Saleh demanding a lift of UN sanctions, Annan voiced his belief that the Iraqis have done their best disarming themselves.

He reiterated, however, that only the Security Council could suspend the long-running sanctions.

Annan called on Iraq to implement the UN Security Council resolution 1248 allowing UN arms inspectors to resume their work.

He added that Iraq was allowed to sell more oil to buy more food supplies.

Asked whether participation of Egyptian forces in the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) had been tackled in the meeting, Moussa said such an issue had not been addressed.

On the signed Ethiopian-Eritrea cease-fire agreement, Annan said the UN was asked to send peacekeeping forces and both countries have agreed to honor the demarcation of borders, to be carried out by the UN.

Annan voiced hope that a UN peacekeeping force would be established soon and necessary funds would be allocated.

Asked how far humanitarian intervention is illegitimate and about Islamic minorities, Annan said that force could be used for protecting common interests and putting UN charter in effect.

Previous Stories:
  Israeli Knesset member meets Moussa; urges four-way summit   (6/15/2000)
  Barak denies convening four-member summit   (6/15/2000)
  Mubarak, Barak discuss Palestinian track issues   (6/15/2000)

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