Mubarak, Arafat probe situation in Palestinian territories
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 11/15/2000

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat Tuesday held a session of talks on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories.

The session was attended by Palestinian Presidents Adviser Nabil Abu Rdaina, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee Secretary Mahmoud Abbas, better known as Abu Mazen, and Minister of Religions Affairs Youssef Salama.

"President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian Yasser Arafat welcomed the outcome of the two-day ninth summit meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)," said Palestinian Minister of Culture and Information Yasser Abd Rabou.

In statements to MENA, Abd Rabou said that during their meeting on Tuesday, both Presidents underlined that the resolutions of the Doha-hosted summit were consistent with the outcome of the emergency Arab summit meeting which was hosted by Egypt on October 21-22.

Mubarak and Arafat underlined the need to terminate the Israeli acts of aggression against the Palestinian people and to conduct serious negotiations under an effective and comprehensive international supervision. "The Palestinian side believes that the Sharm El-Sheikh formula could be used in negotiations," said the Minister.

He added that guarantees for an Israeli commitment to any outcome to be reached should be set as previous experience had proved that Israel never honored any commitments or pledges.

"Arafat has no idea whether US President Bill Clinton to seek a tripartite Palestinian-US -Israeli summit meeting," said Abd Rabou.

He underlined that Clinton did not raise this idea during his meeting with Arafat.

"Abd Rabou said that a US envoy might arrive on Wednesday to meet with Arafat but it is not known whether he has certain ideas or not.

the Arafat-Clinton meeting was not a failed," said Abd Rabou.

He added that the Palestinians seek the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital and solving the refugees' issue according to international legitimacy and related UN Security Council resolutions.

"The Palestinians wants a peaceful-co-existence based on equality which requires an international protection," said Abd Rabou.

Asked when the Palestinian Central Council (PCC) will meet, Abd Rabou said that the meeting will be held within two weeks.

He added that the Palestinian leadership will present a report to the PCC and its members will determine the right decision on declaring statehood.

On international efforts to bring Israeli aggressions to an end, the minister said that all efforts are focussed on providing the Palestinians with international protection.

He added that there is a strong worldwide tenancy to protect the Palestinians.

On the other hand, Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat asked Israeli Premier Ehud Barak to honestly and accurately implement Sharm El-Sheikh agreement.

In statements to reporters in Gaza on Tuesday evening, Arafat said Barak must implement the Sharm EL Sheikh accord which was brokered by Egypt and attended by US President Bill Clinton, Jordanian King AbdullahII, UN Secretary-General kofi Annan and EU representative Javier Solana.

Asked about Barak's putting the blame on him for the killing of four Israeli soldiers on Monday, the Palestinian President wondered: "Did Barak forget the killing (by Israeli troops) of hundreds of Palestinians, including children and women, and the inflicting of injuries on more than 10,000 others?

On the date of holding the meeting of the Palestinian Central Council Arafat said it will be determined soon.

He described the resolutions adopted by the Doha Islamic summit as very important, referring to the fact that the OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference) leaders called it the summit of Al Aqsa Intifada.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt denounces Israeli aggression on Palestinians   (11/9/2000)
  Mubarak - Arafat talks   (11/9/2000)
  Moussa stresses Israeli troops pullout   (11/6/2000)

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