Mubarak's US visit, positive
Egypt-USA, Politics, 4/5/2001

"The visit of President Hosni Mubarak to the US affords a chance to refute rumours claiming that Egypt was stalling peace efforts and pitting parties against Israel," Egyptian Presidential Political Adviser Osama E1 Baz told MENA.

"This positive visit displayed that Egypt's essential role is to push the peace process forward and end the current wave of violence in the Palestinian self-rule areas by both sides," Baz said.

"The visit was essential in order to have the US learn about all facts from an Arab leader known well to the US and who has a distinguished weight," he added.

"The Egyptian clarification had its effect in rectifying many flawed concepts regarding the Palestinian stance," he noted.

He added that wrong concepts and inaccurate information had a negative effect on the US as many Americans had the wrong impression that the Palestinians were responsible for the failure of Camp David and Taba negotiations.

Baz spoke of the stances of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and said despite the fact that the Israeli Prime Minister had said he would be committed to agreements signed by his predecessor, yet he did not keep this promise.

"Sharon failed to embark on implementing Sharm E1 Sheikh agreements," he noted. Baz dwelt on the US ideas to prolong the transitional stage for sometime and put off the negotiations until confidence between the two side is re-built.

On the continuation of contacts with the US Administration, Baz said that they will be maintained through Arab Ambassadors in Washington, visits by top officials and telephone conversations.

The Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs took up to current argument vis-a-vis the visit to the US by the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and said that the visit is no longer as farfetched as it was before.

"Yet the US Administration does want to commit itself to anything except after a close evaluation of the situation," he said.

On the US decision to withdraw CIA members from the Palestinian-Israeli Security Committee, the Egyptian official said that Washington decided to wash off its hands of this committee when both parties have expressed dissatisfaction with the US role in it.

On the US stance vis-a-vis Iraq, Baz said that Washington is insisting on keeping the No-FLY zones clamped on northern and southern Iraq. "This stance is inflexible and firm," he added.

He revealed that the new US Administration does not mind easing the sanctions clamped on Iraq in order to alleviate sufferings of the Iraqi people.

As for Sudan, Egypt and the US agree on the need to preserve Sudan's unity, he said, adding that Washington will be closely following up developments there.

US stance vis-a-vis Sudan can be dubbed as being open and not stagnant and Washington agrees with Egypt that the future and fate of Sudan can be decided on by the Sudanese people in the Northern and Southern parts.

"Washington wants to make sure that Sudan respects human rights and that there is no discrimination between its north and south on any ethnic or religious basis," he said.

Baz spoke of Egypt-US ties and said the US stances are positive at various levels but this does not exclude differences of opinion.

"Differences can emerge between two friendly countries that cooperate in such a way as to benefit their two countries," Baz noted.

He also dealt with the US role in the Mideast efforts and said Washington is neither ready to pressurize any of the parties nor is it ready to find solutions on their behalf.

"Washington is interested in going on with its contacts with the contributions of effective parties such as Egypt or the EU," he added.

Previous Stories:
  Egyptian unity, freedom hailed by Copts in Egypt   (4/4/2001)
  Effective, strong, balanced American role is required   (4/4/2001)
  Mubarak, Bush summit talks   (4/3/2001)

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