Amr Moussa denies crisis in ties with US, outlines issues involved
Egypt-USA, Politics, 10/2/2000

Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa Sunday denied any crisis Egyptian-US relations, but he noted that the ties are not their best shape.

Addressing a forum on Egyptian-US ties, Moussa attributed differences between them to the many interests taken by the US in Egypt and the Middle East.

"Egypt has great interest in the region," said the Minister.

"We have achieved a lot by dint hard work and reached the stage of maturity. Each side is respecting the interests of the other."

Moussa maintained that there are vast domains for developing the Cairo - Washington relations.

Moussa urged both Egypt and the US to do more to improve their ties, and pledged that Egypt would continue to play role in ironing out Arab problems.

"Egypt's role is not related to a certain cause, including that of peace," he said.

He rebutted the claim that Egypt has to accept US proposals on settling the Palestinian problem and pressure Palestinian order to maintain solid ties with Washington.

Moussa cited Egypt's visit by leader of Israeli rightist Likud party Ariel Sharon to AL Aqsa mosque which he said had harm to the peace process.

The minister said that "the frank dialogue" between Egypt and the US helped effectively in strengthening their ties.

He cited differences with Washington on some issues such as that of Libya. "But views of both sides have started to close recently."

Our cooperation in the economic field has come a long we appreciate American assistance to Egypt.

It has greatly expanded our infrastructure, benefited economic reform program and helped invigorate our private sector.

"It has also aided the development of a network of economic interests between our two peoples,"- he said, adding "we realize that the aid is not forever. No economy should depend on assistance for eternity. Two years ago, we have agreed with the US administration to gradually reduce economic assistance over a decade while adjusting its uses to ensure a leaner yet more effective program to address Egypt's priorities in the near future. Aid is no longer the mainstay of our economic cooperation as it has been upstaged by our rising trade, investment and joint ventures."

The US is Egypt's largest trading partner with over dlr. 4 billion in trade.

American investments in Egypt increasing having reached over $. 2.3 billion.

"Today over 2,000 US companies are conducting business in Egypt," he said.

Moreover, US giant conglomerates are well placed to partner with Egypt especially when it comes to our ambitious Mega-projects.

Bechtel, has pioneered the way by constructing in Egypt the first private sector power plant in the Middle East.

A project worth more than half a billion dollars. there are many others American success stories in Egypt capitalizing on the improved business climate and Egypt's strategy of economic integration into the world economy.

"The intervention just made by Mohammed Mansour illustrated some examples of this beneficial cooperation" he added.

"The Mubarak - Gore partnership has institutionalized our economic cooperation in fields ranging from environment to education to information technology," said Moussa.

"With a view to expanding and diversifying our relations with America, I have been keen during my official trips to US to visit various states-accompanied by business representatives - to explore opportunities for increased trade and investment. Last March, I visited the West Coast and carried with me the message that Egypt is ushering in a new information technology era. I invited US companies to partner with US in this new promising frontier of economic activity, " he said

He said "Today, there is no better example of the tour economic ties a qualitative shift. Lobbying for such an agreement should be one of the major goals of the organizers of this conference in their future endeavor."

Moussa said: "While maintaining peaceful relations with Israel, we will always take a strong stand against illegitimate Israel policies and deplorable acts like that of Sharon's provocative visit El-Haram El-Sharif.

These policies not only increase tension in the area but also would reverse the steps towards peace.

The frank dialogue between Egypt and the US has be instrumental in clearing misperceptions often projected on this relationship.

Egyptian and American policy makers have seen eye to eye many issues, but certainly not all.

It is only natural, given the background I have just explained, that our policies differ in certain perspectives.

We have achieved, however, through long hard work, a very high degree of maturity in our relations.

The real forte of our partnership is that each side is able to understand and respect that framework, conditions a limitations under which the other operates and that they ha learned to accommodate differences.

These evolved relations have led us to coordinate our efforts on a wide range of subjects of interest to both sides, and to the region at large.

Although our contacts have not always provided for immediate or full agreement, they have certainly been useful to both sides in aiding them to better understand the other's perspective and to avoid surprises.

Regional issues pertaining to Middle East hot spots have the past warranted an exchange of views that led to slow progress... from differing points of view towards and acceptance or realization of the virtues of the other's perspectives.

Libya has been a case in point. Our widely different approaches towards the Lockerbie crisis in the beginning have ultimately narrowed albeit after a protracted period towards settlement that we though from the beginning was the only plausible result.

Today, we are consulting closely on the Sudan with a view to consolidating national reconciliation within a unified Sudan.

As regards the peace process, Egypt and the US will continue to work together, as they have for the last two decades to achieve a just and, I repeat, just and comprehensive settlement.

We have never been closer to achieving our goal, to making history ... to reshaping history.

The current US Administration and in particular President Clinton has spared no effort in this regard.

This is highly appreciated in Egypt, and we are committed to continue working with the US in this eleventh hour of the process towards a just and balanced solution.

I would like to end where I began.... addressing the future. what can we expect of the future of Egyptian-American relations? what should our long-term agenda be? what really are our goals? how much vision can we master together? How will both countries deal with the changes that the Middle East system is expected to undergo? "Countries of the region, and I trust the United States, need to come to terms with the changing regional environment in the post peace process era."

"The nature of relations in this changed Middle East will be different and will have to accommodate the wider interests of this expanded region," he said.

"In this altered environment, ground rules have to be established. We cannot afford that the new pattern of interaction be built on hegemony. We cannot allow for any country to benefit from preferential treatment.

International agreements have to be adhered to, and the region must be rid of all weapons of mass destruction."

"The rise of an arms race in the area would be intolerable. Egypt and the United States can and should work together to help establish this new environment," he added.

"Both partners have to ensure that the future regional order is not built on axes, which will ultimately lead off to counter axes, thus endangering regional stability. We should not tolerate such situation," Moussa said.

"I believe the US has a special responsibility in a post peace environment to ensure that its closest ally, Israel, becomes a normal state in the region. Webster's definition of normal is "conforming to the standard, and this is what we ask for."

"If we are truly going to open a new page in Middle East history - assuming we reach a peaceful settlement - then all countries in the region have to conform to the same standard," Moussa said.

"Egypt and the United States have also an equally important role regarding the shape and contour of future regional cooperation. We believe that regional cooperation is one integrated concept divided into four mutually reinforcing components; peace, security, economic cooperation and stability."

"The menu is straightforward, comprehensive and just peace; equal and balanced security; dynamic economic cooperation and regional political stability. and frankly it is difficult for me to address future regional stability without addressing head-on the issue of Iraq," he said.

"No country should be left under sanctions in perpetuity. The time has come to show Iraq the light at the end of the tunnel. And that light has to be clear. A solution or a settlement, or a change in the policy towards Iraq is indeed overdue."

"As for regional economic cooperation, the agenda is very promising. Various institutions need to be established to promote economic development and prosperity in the area. The Middle East is rich with resources, particularly human resources. Yet it is in dire need of more US and foreign investments. Together we can work on initiatives that can attract foreign investments, high tech and it to this area for the benefit of all," he noted.

"We can and we have to work hand in hand to change the image of Islam and the Arabs in the United States and to dispel notions of any clash of civilizations. This is a cause worthy of every minute of our time and indeed of your time," he said.

"On the global level, we need to work closer together on reform and strengthening of the UN in order to make this international organization more compatible to the challenges the 21st century. And here we do call for a consensus on whatever changes would embark on for the future of the United Nations."

"With all frankness, we have before us a lengthy agenda Egyptian-American cooperation. One that I am sure will keep us quite busy. I personally place on the top of this agenda the conclusion of a free trade agreement between the two countries in the near future. This will open unlimited doors of interaction and prosperity for both peoples. As you have seen from this quick tour d'horizon, Egyptian-American relationship has grown stronger as it deeper and broader dimensions."

"It remains one of the most critical and important bilateral relationships in Egyptian foreign policy. Many interests are at stake. Yet the key is to preserve all these interests I balance which enhances our total relationship," he said.

"I am confident that we can work closer together reinvigorate this vital relationship," said Moussa.

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