Mubarak, Bashir discuss significant issues
Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 5/14/2001

Egyptian President Mubarak and Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir called for immediate and unconditional cessation of all forms of brutal and arbitrary practices against the Palestinain peoples.

They condemned Israeli policies of collective punishment in occupied Palestinian territories and deliberate sabotage of the Palestinian economy and its institution.

They also reiterated their condemnation and categorical rejection of the Israeli policies of settlement in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories, as well as Israeli practices designed to Judaize and annex Jerusalem, dubbing such acts and practices as nil and avoid.

This came in a joint communique released yesterday at the close of President Bashir one-day visit to Cairo, where a summit meeting was held between both Presidents.

The communique stressed the importance of both Israeli and Palestinian side getting back the negotiating table from the point they had stopped, based on international legitimacy resolutions, notably UNSC resolutions, No. 242 and 338, the land-for-peace formula within the Madrid terms of reference.

This should ensure that the Palestinian people would have access to their legitimate rights to self-determination, establishment of a state of their own on their own territories with Jerusalem as its capital.

These also include refugees' right to repatriation according to UN 6A resolution No. 1940.

In the context of bilateral relations, both Presidents agreed to raise the status of the joint committee to a higher committee to be co-chaired by Prime Minister Atef Ebeid and Sudanese first Vice-President.

Both Presidents agreed that the proposed joint committee meetings will be held on a rational basis in Cairo and Khartoum alternately, with the first meeting to be held in Khartoum. It was also agreed to create a ministerial-level mechanism to be co-chaired by both countries' foreign ministers to follow-up and report to the committee on its business.

Mubarak-Bashir talks dealt with efforts exerted to reach a comprehensive political solution and the national concordance in Sudan as well as the maintain unity stability and security for all sects and forces of the Sudanese people and protect their supreme national interests.

In respects of Sudanese issues, Presidents Mubarak and Bashir stressed that concerted national, regional and international efforts should Geared to reach a comprehensive political settlement based on the unity and territorial integrity of Sudan, to realize the aspirations of all its citizens and elements and to invest its resources in building a better future for its people.

On his part, President Mubarak expressed his interest and satisfaction for efforts exerted by President Bashir's government towards completing democratizing, expanding the base of participation for Sudanese national powers and accelerating development projects all over Sudan.

President Mubarak reiterated that Egyptian-Libyan initiative for national concordance overall political settlements in Sudan still serve as an appropriate framework for consolidating efforts towards a peaceful settlement on Sudan.

Both presidents reiterated their call for IGAD to coordinate their efforts with Egyptian-Libyan endeavors in this respect.

Presidents Mubarak and Bashir emphasize the importance of implementing the extraordinary Arab Summit meeting held in Cairo, October 2000, and the periodical Arab Summit meeting held in Amman, last March.

They also stressed the importance of full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights the remaining occupied Lebanese territories up to the internationally recognized borders including Shaba' plantations.

In this respect, President Bashir expressed appreciation and support, on his own and his government's behalf of President Mubarak efforts and Egypt's role in bringing about just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

Both Presidents reiterated their call for declaring the Middle East a region free of weapons of mass devastation according to President Mubarak's initiatives.

They also stressed the need for Israel to join the non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) and to subject its nuclear facilities to the IAAA comprehensive safeguards regime.

Both presidents once again stressed their support for the Libyan republic calling for lifting immediately and finally sanctions imposed on Libya, given that it has already met its obligations according to UNSC resolutions relating to the Lockerbie case.

Presidents Mubarak and Bashir also express their solidarity with the brotherly people of Iraq, calling for putting an end to its suffering resulting from the embargo long imposed on them.

They further called for lifting sanctions imposed on Iraq, emphasizing the need to maintain its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt Sudan to discuss ending entry visas requirements   (5/4/2001)
  On al-Bashir- Mubarak summit   (5/3/2001)
  Bashir to visit Egypt to strengthen relations   (5/2/2001)

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