Egypt's relations with US are good in spite of all campaigns
Egypt-USA, Politics, 6/24/2001

"Egypt and the United States have agreed to intensify efforts in the upcoming few days in order to carry out recommendations of international Mitchell committee in full," Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said

"President Mubarak would discuss with Secretary of State Colin Powell, who is due in Cairo on Wednesday on the first leg of a Middle East tour, guidelines for carrying out Mitchell recommendations urgently" added the Foreign Minister.

Maher described on Friday Egyptian-US ties as excellent and mature enough to hold dialogue on different issues despite the campaigns launched by some quarters to mar Egyptian American relations.

At a press conference with members of the Arab journalists league in Washington, the top Egyptian diplomat described as "good" his talks with senior US officials and prominent congressmen.

Asked about the situation in the Middle East, Maher voiced belief that Palestinian Israeli negotiations should be resumed from the point they left off and not from square one.

He called on Israel to lift the siege imposed on Palestinian territories and ease restrictions on the Palestinians' movement as well as shifting from the security domain to the political one for the ceasefire to hold on.

He said Egypt is the first leg of US Secretary of State Colin Powell's regional tour.

He said the US side shows readiness to discuss Egypt's ideas on the importance of carrying out quickly the political side of the Mitchell recommendations and lay down a mechanism to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire agreement reached between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

He added that these ideas were neither rejected nor accepted by the Bush Administration at the time being.

Maher said Egypt welcomes the activation of the US role in the region, as it is a main partner in the peace process.

He denied that the UN and European Union could replace US role in the region.

"This is not the point. What we want is to join all efforts to realise the long-hoped-for peace in the region, Maher added.

Asked about the latest ruling against Saad Eddin Ibrahim, a professor at the American university in Cairo (AUC), Maher said Ibrahim was convicted according to the Egyptian law.

Maher said Ibrahim's issue was raised only during his talks with the congressmen and that the Bush administration officials did not directly refer to it.

"The Bush administration is fully aware that some sides are trying to take advantage of this issue," Maher said.

He added that the US ambassador visited Ibrahim in jail and saw for himself the good treatment he was receiving and that his health condition was good.

Well informed sources said US administration officials have made it clear to Maher and Palestinian Minister of international cooperation Nabil Shaath that they have clear cut agreements from Palestinian and Israeli parties to carry out all obligations.

Meantime, Maher informed the US Administration of the Egyptian stance which is represented in the following points:

- That fragile ceasefire between Israelis and Palestinians could not be maintained without a political move that gives Palestinians hope. For this reason, Egypt believes that continuation of truce for six weeks, as suggested, would expose ceasefire to very big risks unless it was supported by other confidence building measures.

- Political activities should be accelerated in harmony with security moves as maintaining calm depends on making a political headway.

-Egypt has raised the idea of sponsorship of ceasefire by a third party in order to guarantee that it would not be violated.

Maher said he discussed this idea with the US side that neither accepted nor rejected it.

Maher described Egyptian US relations as good in spite of all campaigns aimed at influencing them.

Talks by the Foreign Minister in Washington concurred with a visit by Dr. Nabil Shaath, the Palestinian Minister of International Cooperation to Washington.

Shaath urged the United States to provide an international monitoring team for observing ceasefire.

He said a violation of ceasefire is not ruled out, but the most important thing is that is should not lead to its collapse.

Shaath said he called for Washington's assistance in ending Israeli siege and withdrawal of the Israeli army to pre-Intifada locations, stressing the PNA keenness to observe ceasefire.

Meantime, Secretary of State Colin Powell ruled out any quick move in the peace process unless violence acts came to a virtual halt as he put it.

He said he was prepared to exert personal efforts for calming down positions.

Previous Stories:
  Maher in Washington   (6/22/2001)
  Egypt's foreign minister starts soon official visit to Washington   (6/19/2001)
  Mubarak discusses with CIA director ways of shoring up ceasefire   (6/11/2001)

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