Egyptian armed forces, fully aware of peace challenges
Egypt, Politics, 12/20/2000

Egypt's President Mubarak said democracy dictates respect for the constitution adding that judicial supervision of elections gave citizens wider freedom to select their representatives and increased turnout.

President Mubarak said the turnout in future will be higher in the upcoming elections mainly in cities and the countryside after the people gained more confidence in the state keenness to respect the freedom of opinion.

This came following the President's meeting with the armed forces commanders and officers at the annual Iftar which was held yesterday at Infantry house.

The President said the judicial supervision on elections came in implementation of the ruling by the Supreme Constitutional Court, according to Minister of Information Safwat Al-Sherif, who said that the President asserted that a just peace is the key to maintaining stability.

The President said peace can only be achieved through respect for legitimate rights adding any agreement between Palestinians and Israelis should be based on admission of the Palestinian rights, including sovereignty over Al-Haram Al-Sharif and establishing their state.

The President said success in achieving peace on sound basis means comprehensive peace and stability which provides genuine security for all parties in the region .

The Minister of Information said Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat at his last meeting with President Mubarak discussed the results of the underway contacts between the Palestinian and Israeli sides through the United States in a bid to bring the two sides back to negotiations table and to put an end to deterioration in the Palestinian territories.

The President asserted that a just peace is the key to achieve stability adding peace can only be achieved through respect for legitimate rights, commitment to the principle of "land for peace" adding Egypt has liberated its national soil through fighting, negotiations and international arbitration.

The President said peace should be protected by a conscious military and economic force which is fully aware of peace challenges.

The President said peace does not mean ceding rights, adding Egypt takes side with justice in its endeavors for achieving just peace among all parties.

On launching the new Parliament, President Mubarak expressed hope that the new Parliament would put citizens interests above any consideration as this would deepen the people's confidence in its role.

On Egypt's relations with Iraq, the President said Egypt takes side with the Iraqi people, referring to success in reaching an agreement on convening Arab summits periodically.

Previous Stories:
  Moussa terms talks with Scharping on ME peace, bilateral ties as useful   (12/19/2000)
  Peace with Israel conditional on ceding Arab territories   (12/19/2000)
  Mubarak confers with German defense minister   (12/19/2000)

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