US strongly committed to broker Mideast peace
Egypt-USA, Politics, 4/24/2001

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak yesterday discussed with a US congressional delegation relations as well as the deteriorating situation in the Middle East situation and the ensuing Israeli aggression against Palestinians.

The head of the delegation, Jim Colby, said his country supported the resumption of peace process on basis of the agreed principles.

He told reporters after his meeting with the President that the United States didn't have magic solutions to halt the spiralling violence, which explains the need to return to negotiations to defuse tension.

Colby said it was absolutely necessary to end violence in order to restore calm and promote political and economic interests in the region.

He expressed Washington's strong commitment to continue efforts to broker peace in the area, adding that the United States was pursuing close coordination with leaders in the region to achieve this objective.

A delegation member told reporters the visit was meant to capitalise on the momentum generated by President Hosni Mubarak's recent visit to the United States.

The delegate hoped close contacts between the two countries could eventually facilitate an understanding whereby a peaceful coexistence could be installed in the area.

When asked to comment on increasing violence in the area, Jim Colby said the Israeli government and people believed Hizbollah was still threatening Israel's northern borders and that the Lebanese government had no control over Hizbollah's operations.

"Israel feels it must do something to protect its own security. But we hope the situation will not aggravate any further and that the two sides will return to the negotiating table," he said.

Regarding the blockade imposed on the Palestinians, the head of the delegation said it was unwise and unhelpful to isolate one side from the equation. He said the Palestinians and Israelis were partners and must find an arrangement to live together peacefully in the future.

He said the two sides must admit their need to make peace and must have the political will to go the extra mile. "President Mubarak and other leaders in the region are playing a very important role to enhance this tendency," he said.

In his address to the Egyptian International Economic Forum late on Sunday, Colby, who chairs the congressional committee responsible for non-military foreign aid, said the committee would approve economic aid worth 655 million dollars to Egypt for the year 2001. He added that Egypt was one of the United States' most important trade partners in the region and that Egypt has gone a long way along the road of improving the investment atmosphere in the country.

Previous Stories:
  Congressmen thank Mubarak for fairness   (4/12/2001)
  Mubarak's visit to USA achieves political, economic successes   (4/7/2001)
  Resumption of settlements confirms incredibility in Israel's policies   (4/7/2001)

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