Moussa: situation in Palestine worsens
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 10/5/2000

The situation in the occupied territories is serious and is increasingly worsening, said Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa.

In a joint press conference with US State Secretary Madeleine Albright, Moussa said Ariel Sharon's notorious visit to Al-Haram al-Sharif further complicated the matters.

Sharm el-Sheikh meeting complements Paris meeting that grouped Albright, Israeli Premier Ehud Barak and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, said Moussa.

Albright spelled out her deep regret over the bloodshed that has been ongoing in the Palestinian territories over the past seven days.

Albright said Arafat and Barak showed determination to proceed with their efforts to end this tragedy and resume the peace march. it has been agreed that the US will host a trilateral meeting.

Here is an agreement between Arafat and Barak and all the criminal acts must be stopped so that negotiations would continue, said Albright.

The US received a string of ideas from Egypt and will need to study them and verify the implementation of the signed accords on the ground, said Albright.

The peace process must be returned to normal and acts of violence have to be stopped as all necessary plans that would ensure that have to be drawn, added Albright.

On whether the US stance towards peace has changed in light of the raging violence in Palestine, Albright said the peace process has to continue and all the military acts have to be stopped.

Moussa said the invitation for Sharm el-Sheikh meeting was open and that Barak`s absence was up to him.

Albright confirmed that Sharon's visit to Al-Haram al-Sharif was a mistake and that the important thing now is to see to how come out of this dilemma.

Washington will continue working for peace alongside with Egypt, added Albright.

Arafat and Barak agreed to end the acts of violence and ordered the immediate cessation of hostilities, the US Secretary of State said. It has also been agreed that the us will sponsor a trilateral meeting to push the negotiations forward and discussions in that direction are continuing, she added.

The US is closely working in this regard with president Mubarak, she said, noting that theUS is doing its best to ensure return of calmness to the region. She mentioned the endeavors that have apparently materialised today in the proportionate retreat of violence.

Moussa said the atmosphere was densely polluted, while the peace process requires appropriate climate and this prompted demand for an International Fact-finding Committee.

The wrath is quite justified for the scenes watched on the TV screens where children were being killed and civilians slain in their homes, said Moussa, adding that peace should be fair.

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