Egypt urges Germany to press for effective European pro-peace role
Egypt-Germany, Politics, 4/27/2001

Egypt demanded Germany to forge an effective European role that would boost the US role in the Middle East peace process to put an end to the deteriorating and tense situation in the region.

In press statements on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said a set of points have been discussed with the German side, most salient among which was the importance to have a European role played in the Middle East regardless of the shrinking of the US's. 'This European role will be added to the American one and will not be an alternative,' he remarked.

He said European moves have to have a clear content.

"There is no need currently to a new European initiative as the Egyptian-Jordanian one is still there and is quite enough," he added.

However, there is a need for a strong European role to help stop the dangerous showdowns in the region.

"Egypt does not ask for a pro-Arab stance but just for a role that would uphold and support the peace terms and basics which Europe already set in Madrid conference in October 1991," said Moussa.

"The talks also dealt with the issue of Iraq and both the Egyptian and German sides agreed on the necessity to have Iraq's security and territorial integrity maintained and to address the sufferings of the Iraqi people and children as a result of the sanctions," said the Foreign Minister.

"The importance of the talks with Germany emanates from the fact that Germany is a major and influential power in Europe and its stance is positive and not hampering for the European role," elaborated Moussa.

"The international arena is unfortunately polluted with half-truths and distorted theories and a falsification of the situation by the Israeli side," he said, adding that Egypt explained this to the Germans.

Moussa said a string of Issues were discussed with the Germans, including the establishment of a fund to transform parts of the debt and debt interests owed to Berlin into German investments in development projects in Egypt.

"Negotiations will start soon to set the mechanism through which the agreement will be put into force,"he added. Also it has been agreed to form a joint committee from the Foreign and Interior Ministries in the two countries to address the side-effects of inter-marriages among the two nationalities, said the Egyptian top diplomat.

"The two sides further discussed German investments over the of the next few years and means to multiply them in addition to improving the trade balance which tilts in favor of Berlin," he concluded.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak's talks in Germany deal with economic, political relations   (4/21/2001)
  Moussa terms talks with Scharping on ME peace, bilateral ties as useful   (12/19/2000)
  Schroeder's visit asserts mutual understanding and cooperation   (10/26/2000)

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