Peace is indispensable for stability
Egypt, Politics, 10/9/2000

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak is convinced that peace is indispensable for the realization of stability and that both the Arabs and Israelis cannot do without it.

Information Minister Safwat El-Sherif quoted President Mubarak as having asserted, at a meeting Sunday with Officers of the Armed Forces Central Zone, that the peoples of the region could not possibly enjoy a dignified life or make any advancements except under peace, in the absence of which all would be scrambling to possess weapons, with ordinary people deprived of any social life.

President Mubarak said the question of Jerusalem and Al-Haram Al-Sharif is by far the most crucial point on the road to reach final peace in the region.

On the prospective Arab Summit, President Mubarak said a large number of Arab countries have responded positively to the call for convening it.

President Mubarak, however, went on to say that ``some`` have reconsidered their decision, after having previously championed such a call.

"It is important to hold the summit soon to confront existing problems," he said, adding that the current violence is demanding Arab leaders to sit together and take the right decision.

"It is inadmissible that any opinion or condition be imposed on Arab leaders before they meet,"President Mubarak said.

It is vital to reach an equation satisfactory to all parties concerned, urged President Mubarak, adding that failure to arrive at such a formula would result in dire consequences for Israel, the entire region and the US as well.

President Mubarak, reiterating that Egypt was not exercising any pressure on the Palestinian side, said Egypt stood by the Palestinians' right to restore their land occupied in 1967.

President Mubarak said he was mystified by demands that the Palestinians should take ``difficult decisions``, pointing out that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat was not in a position to take any decision clashing with the interests of the Palestinian people, nor was he capable of relinquishing an Arab or Islamic right.

"Not a single Arab country would accept Israeli sovereignty over AL-Haram Al-Sharif," said President Mubarak, adding that his position on the proposed ``divine`` sovereignty over Al-Haram was that the Palestinians should be ``deputised`` to do so.

President Mubarak went on to say that things became worse after Israeli Likud Party Leader Ariel Sharon entered the Holy compound escorted by a large number of armed guards.

"Sharon is a party leader, not a decision-maker,"Mubarak pointed out.

The situation then deteriorated after shooting at the Palestinians, on the pretext that they were throwing stones at Israeli soldiers, leaving scores of Palestinians dead, he added.

President Mubarak said that he then invited the parties concerned to meet in Sharm El-Sheikh after the Paris meeting, at which Arafat refused to sign a paper condemning the Palestinian side as the initiator of violence.

"I was told that Barak would not come to Sharm El-Sheikh," President Mubarak said, adding that the move was meant to make him press Arafat into signing, which did not happen.

"We would never ask the Palestinians to do anything that is not commensurate with their national interests," Mubarak said.

"President Mubarak highlighted, during the meeting, the UN Security Council Resolution on condemning ``acts of violence`` perpetrated by Israel," said Safwat El-Sherif.

"The President recalled his words to US President Bill Clinton over the phone where he told him that any US veto to the resolution would further complicate the situation" said Safwat El- Sherif.

Some 14 countries voted in favor of the Resolution while the US abstained.

"President Mubarak asserted that the economic reform program serves the best interest of the Egyptian people and helps create more job opportunities," said Sherif and added that the President pointed out that the process of economic reform is one of many gains of the 1973 October war.

"The President pointed out that the real danger lies in the mushrooming population," he said.

On the forthcoming Parliamentary elections, President Mubarak said the government does not interfere in the elections and that mistakes are committed by individuals, noted Safwat El Sherif.

President Mubarak underlined that only in Egypt the judicial authority has full supervision of the ballot boxes.

He said that time is not ripe for any amendment of the constitution and there is no readiness for such amendments.

"President Mubarak reaffirmed his call for rendering the Middle East free from all weapons of mass destruction," according to Sherif.

Previous Stories:
  Pope Shenouda condemns Israeli aggression on Al-Aqsa Mosque   (10/7/2000)
  Egypt will not use pressure with the Palestinians   (10/7/2000)
  Mubarak visits palestinian wounded at Nasser institute hospital   (10/7/2000)

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