Mubarak reviews outcome of meetings by fact-finding committee in Palestinian territories
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 12/13/2000

At his meeting yesterday with the delegation of the fact finding mission in the Palestinian territories, President Mubarak was briefed on the outcome of the committee meetings with both Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and a number of Palestinian and Israel officials.

Emerging from the meeting, former US Senator George Mitchell said the committee briefed President Mubarak on its mission and meetings held Monday with resigned Israeli Premier Ehud Barak an other Israeli officials in Jerusalem as well as Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Palestinian officials in Gaza.

He added that he told the President that the committee would do its utmost to come up with a full, just and neutral report in the near future.

On how the committee would carry out its task especially that it has never been on the streets, he said that this visit was the first to the area and that the committee will return several times.

He said that the first visit only aimed at meeting with the leaders, a matter that has been already done. " Members of the committee also met Monday for a couple of hours with representatives of the Palestinian community including physicians, lawyers, university professors and others," he added.

Members of the committee will regularly return to the area until they complete their mission.

" The report will contain some remarks for us to put into account and then a final report will be presented to US President," said Mitchell, adding the US President's office will announce the report for the public opinion.

He pointed out that both the Palestinians and Israeli parties will have the chance to manifest their remarks prior to announcing the report for the public opinion.

On whether the committee will not suffice with documents and memorandums and pay field visits to both sides, Mitchell said that the committee will do everything necessary to come up with a fair just report, that adding the committee will not suffice with documents.

Mitchell dismissed media reports that documents will be announced in succession.

On the steps to be taken by the committee to end its task positively, Mitchell said: we will return to the region several times to collect information from different sources at different levels.

On whether the committee will meet with Likud Party Leader Ariel Sharon, Mitchell noted that the committee has not determined yet who it will meet with and when.

On whether the report will clarify who sparked the sanguinary incidents in the Palestinian territories, Mitchell said that President Clinton mentioned in the Sharm El Sheikh Summit that the committee does not aim at holding either side responsible, but rather preparing a full report on the reasons of these incidents and coming with means to avoid their repetition in the future.

The committee does not intend to flare up the situation or to blame this or that side, we rather hope to provide a constructive contribution to improve the situation.

In a question to European Union (EU) External Affairs Chief Javier Solana on his view to end the wave of violence continuing since Sharm E1 Sheikh summit, he said that we exerted ungrudging efforts to help lessen the wave of violence.

It would be so difficult to interfere in the peace talks or try to reach solutions if the tension went on, said Solana, adding Arafat and Barak told the committee Monday that they will do their best to reduce the violence.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak receives fact-finding committee   (12/12/2000)
  Mubarak, Arafat probe current situation in Palestinian territories   (12/7/2000)
  Egypt continues efforts to stop violence against Palestinians   (12/2/2000)

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