Moussa denies plans to hold Arafat-Barak summit
Egypt-Israel, Politics, 12/2/2000

Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa Thursday denied reports circulated by the Israeli media that Egypt was planning to hold a summit meeting in Cairo between Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

At a joint press conference with Polish Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Bartoszewski following a two-hour session of talks Moussa said that these reports are not accurate.

He added that Arafat refused to take part in a trilateral meeting with Barak and US President Bill Clinton in Washington.

Moussa deemed such a meeting as useless on the count that this issue is not on the table because it is not just a matter of meetings, but rather of policy.

"We do not think that holding such a meeting will be useful," he said, adding that holding a meeting between the two parties at different circumstances necessitates serious commitment to the implementation of what they could agree upon.

The two ministers' talks dealt with bilateral relations, the Middle East peace process and Poland's efforts to join the European Union.

Bartoszewski, on his part, termed his country's 70-year-old relations with Egypt as important and deeply-rooted.

On the regional developments, the Polish top diplomat said the situation in the Middle East is very bad and voiced his country's readiness to cooperate provided that the Palestinian and Israeli sides agree to this.

Answering a question by reporters, Bartoszewski said that Polish forces are among the peacekeeping forces stationed in Golan Heights with the approval of both the Syrians and Israelis.

Poland is also having other peacekeepers in Lebanon and Yugoslavia.

"We welcome Poland's desire to be present with the aim of realizing peace in the region," Moussa commented.

Answering a question on the advice he wants to give to the Israelis, Moussa said that the international resolutions had to be respected. "We are currently negotiating over the final status issues," he expounded.

"These issues are serious and had to be dealt with as soon as possible and according to UN resolutions 242 and 338 as well as the land for peace formula," he added.

Moussa reiterated that Israel should implement Sharm El-Sheikh understanding and withdraw from the Palestinian lands in order to calm the volatile situation in the region.

"Israel," he said, "could start to negotiate with the Palestinians over all the issues without exception."

"Egypt is ready to help the negotiations. Our message is clear, we want a just peace and no confrontations," Moussa said.

Answering a question on whether Poland agrees on the Palestinian request to dispatch international forces to be stationed in the occupied territories, the Polish minister said he discussed this matter with the Palestinians during his visit to Gaza.

Bartoszewski called for finding an appropriate formula to reach an understanding between the Palestinians and Israelis in this regard.

Sceptic, the Polish minister said he is not sure whether these forces are the only solution. "There are a lot of questions on where these forces would be stationed," he added.

Moussa was asked on whether the Palestinian leader could take the initiative and go to Knesset as did late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and what could be said to the Palestinians in this regard. The Egyptian top diplomat said he will convey this to the Palestinian leader.

"Arafat has a lot to say," Moussa said, adding that the current unrest in the Palestinian territories could undermine any initiatives taken by both sides in light of the current circumstances.

As regards the Palestinians, Moussa said he would tell them that peace is the target and has to be a just and balanced peace.

"The Palestinians are looking forward to the withdrawal of the Israeli forces as a first step to implement Sharm El-Sheikh understanding," he added.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak rules out the eruption of war in the ME   (12/1/2000)
  Israeli envoy in a secret mission in Cairo   (11/30/2000)
  Egypt discovers two spies for the Mossad   (11/29/2000)

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