Moussa: ME peace needs serious endeavors
Egypt, Politics, 6/24/2000

Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa Thursday stressed the important of "serious, not cosmetic" endeavors to resolve the Arab-Israel conflict once and for all. "The next few weeks are supposed to see crystallization final stances," Moussa said.

Moussa cautioned against wasting time, saying that asking one side to be flexible while the other continuing to be intransigent would lead nowhere.

Moussa urged "honest implementation" of previously signed pacts between Palestinians and Israelis and the establishment of "an active Palestinian state".

"I think that the internal issues will-be sorted out within a few days," Moussa said. He was answering a question on impact of a current crisis facing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's coalition government on reaching a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

Moussa emphasized the importance of political support to the issue of Jerusalem. "The issue of Jerusalem is still complicated," Moussa said.

"Such issues should be negotiated and resolved during final-status negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis," Moussa added.

Other items on the agenda of Palestinian-Israeli permanent peace talks include borders, refugees, access to water and Palestinian state.

Commenting on President Hosni Mubarak's Wednesday phone call with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, Moussa said "doors are open for progress in Egyptian-Iranian relations.'

Moussa is due to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi on the fringe of Kuala Lumpur meetings.

"Egypt totally supported Tehran's admission into the G-15 and Iran was officially informed of this entry during Mubarak's call to Khatami," said Moussa. "All these are positive steps on the road to better ties between Iran and Egypt."

Moussa cited the rejection of public opinion of the sanctions against Iraq." The way to this goal (ending the economic embargo against Iraq lies in understanding between the UN and Iraq on how to implement the Security Council Resolution No. 1284."

Moussa hoped that the sweeping amnesty offered by the Sudanese government to the opposition would help accelerate national reconciliation.

Moussa said that Egypt and Libya through a joint peace plan and in coordination with the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) initiative would resolve outstanding Sudanese problems.

Moussa added that he would meet his Sudanese counterpart in Kuala Lumpur during a meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Moussa said that Egypt neither offered nor was asked to participate in peacekeeping forces in Lebanon. "We still think that international participation is better."

Moussa meets with Japanese Ambassador in Cairo

Foreign Minister Amr Moussa met Thursday with the Japanese Ambassador in Cairo.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, the Japanese Ambassador said they reviewed the latest Middle East peace process developments, bilateral relations and means of fostering them, the outcome of the successful Cairo latest G-15 Summit, and preparations for the coming G-8 Summit to be held at Okinawa, Japan, on July 20 - 21.

"On a future role by Japan in fostering the Middle East peace process, the Ambassador said Japan has backed all signed agreements in this respect. Japan has also supported the Palestinian cause and offered the Palestinians necessary economic assistance," he said.

He voiced hope that an agreement would be reached on a peaceful settlement before September on the Palestinian and the Syrian tracks.

Previous Stories:
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  Preparation needed for three-way summit in Washington, Palestinian minister says   (6/22/2000)

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