Mubarak and Arafat to discuss plan of action in Washington negotiations
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 12/20/2000

Egypt's President Mubarak today receives Palestinian President Yasser Arafat who arrived in Cairo yesterday on a two-day visit for talks with President Mubarak on the plan of action in the upcoming stage.

Egypt's Ambassador to Israel, now in Cairo, said President Arafat's visit aims at maintaining coordination with President Mubarak, adding that Egypt is closely watching progress of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations in Washington.

He said what is needed in not more negotiations but rather the implementation of international legitimacy and carrying out the agreements reached.

During their talks today, President Arafat will brief President Mubarak on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories in the light of the sustained Israeli aggression, and military as well as economic siege in effect since last September 28.

Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said talks between Presidents Mubarak and Arafat will be held at a critical time, adding that the Egyptian side would listen to a briefing by Arafat Moussa said the Egyptian standpoint is well known to the Palestinian president and did not change.

Commenting on Washington's talks, Moussa said they are contacts and not negotiations because of the deadlock of the peace process.

Meantime, Zuhdi El-Qedra, Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt, said talks between President Hosni Mubarak and visiting Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat are part of the ongoing consultations.

The consultation comes as the Palestinian case is going through crucial time amid Israeli escalation of violence against the Palestinian people.

Qedra said that the Palestinian people's Intifada would continue even during peace talks because the Intifada was the only way to press Israel to implement its international commitments.

The blood of the Palestinian martyrs would not go in vain.

"The successive Israeli governments fell because they were not ready to make peace," he said.

The only way to salvage the Israeli government was to go on the road of peace.

Previous Stories:
  Palestinians should run Al Haram Al Sharif   (12/18/2000)
  Incidents in Palestinian territories overshadow UN work   (12/16/2000)
  Mubarak reviews outcome of meetings by fact-finding committee in Palestinian territories   (12/13/2000)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search