Sharm El-Sheikh seeks achieving withdrawal of Israeli troops from besieged Palestinian cities
Egypt, Politics, 10/16/2000

Egypt's President Mubarak said the main goal of Sharm EL Sheikh summit which will be held today is to impose withdrawal of the Israeli troops from the Palestinian cities, lifting their siege in the wake of confrontations which flared during the past two weeks.

At his meeting yesterday with Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary-General, the President stressed the importance of achieving such withdrawal, saying this is inevitable for the success of the summit.

The President also discussed with Annan preparations for the summit in the light of intensive contacts which were held by the President with world leaders during the past few days and the results of Annan's talks with Israeli and Palestinian sides.

President Hosni Mubarak convened a meeting Sunday of top officials to set a clear agenda of Sharm AL Sheikh summit.

Minister of Information Safwat AL Sherif said the President briefed them on the ongoing contacts among all parties concerned to set the main items on the Sharm EL Sheikh summit agenda.

In Press Statements late Sunday, Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said that preparing the summit agenda required more time but the military situation and Israeli siege around Palestinian territories need to be lifted along with halting military actions.

"Holding the summit on urgent basis does not indicate offering concessions but rather dealing with a major problem which is the Israeli military attacks against the Palestinians which should be halted and never repeated," said Moussa.

"Moussa described setting up an investigation committee as important and that it would be addressed by the summit," said Moussa.

He voiced hope that an agreement in that respect should be reached in order to enable the would-be panel to investigate into the military actions, provocation's and killing of civilians and children.

"Disagreements on the agenda are concerned more with the details and bases on which the Palestinian-Israeli relations should be built," said the Top Diplomat.

Moussa described Israeli Premier Ehud Barak's offer to form a purely US fact-finding panel as not serious.

Moussa expressed identical views to US President Bill Clinton's belief that high hopes should not be pinned on the success of the summit.

He pointed out that discussions and stances to be taken during the summit are the only factors that would crown it with success.

He stressed that discussions should be serious as the event is all about the Mideast peace process and regional stability.

Asked about differences between issues to be addressed by the summit and those by the Arab summit, Moussa said that the latter has a much wider agenda.

He added that President Hosni Mubarak would present a report to the Arab summit on the outcome of the Sharm EL Sheikh summit.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt and the four-member summit   (10/14/2000)
  Conditions unfavorable for tetra partite summit   (10/13/2000)
  El-Baz: Arab summit aims at restorning peace to the area   (10/12/2000)

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