Maher returns home from Libya
Egypt-Libya, Politics, 6/13/2001

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher returned home late Tuesday concluding his two-day visit to Libya during which he took part in meetings of the Arab ministerial committee assigned by the latest Arab summit with studying Libyan ideas on the Middle East and Arab issues.

In statements upon arrival, Maher said the meeting was designed to tackle ideas presented by Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi in his speech before the Amman Summit.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Libya and Sudan discussed these ideas and will present a report to the coming summit, said Maher.

These ideas tackled the Arab summit mechanism, the Arab world issues, globalisation, Afro-Arab solidarity, the Palestinian issue and the world approach to the developing countries, especially the US, he added.

The foreign ministers met twice after meeting with Gaddafi to discuss the issues, said Maher.

The ministers commissioned their chief delegates to hold more meetings before their previously scheduled September meeting that will precede the Arab League Council meeting, Maher said.

He added that the ministers met with Gaddafi to post him on outcome of their meetings and their decisions.

Asked about means to move Palestinian-Israeli talks from the security to the political domain, Maher said that politics and security should be incorporated into one package in accordance with the Mitchell report recommendations.

The US has stressed the need to implement the report in full, said Maher.

He added that the Palestinians and the Israelis can never enjoy calmness and security as long as Israel pushes ahead with its plans.

Asked about UN Chief Kofi Annan's visit to Egypt as part of a Mideast tour, Maher stressed the importance of the UN role and noted that President Hosni Mubarak will meet Annan on Wednesday.

Annan has been concerned with the Mideast peace process for long, especially since the convening of the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, Maher said.

Asked about Israeli reservations on a document provided by CIA Director George Tenet, Maher said that similar Israeli statements were announced before.

He declined commenting on statements at a time when there is a dire need for actions on the ground.

He ruled out possible holding of any Sharm el-Sheikh modelled four-way summit meeting.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa and Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdel Ilah al-Khatib arrived in Egypt on board of the same plane.

Previous Stories:
  Arab Ministerial Committee to study current Arab issues, Gaddafi's proposals   (6/12/2001)
  Arab Ministerial committee to study Gaddafi's proposals; Annan in cairo   (6/11/2001)
  Executive agreements to be implemented   (5/10/2001)

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