Mubarak's statements on Mideast situation
Egypt-USA, Politics, 8/18/2001

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stressed that an Egyptian delegation was sent to Washington to discuss with American officials the situation in the Middle East and the subject of observers in accordance with what was agreed upon at the G-8 summit. The President denied what Israel reported to the contrary.

Speaking to reporters Saturday, President Mubarak said that the idea of stopping violence is an impossible issue. the aim is to reduce tension.

The President said that he will make a tour in September to discuss bilateral relations between Egypt and the countries he will visit and increasing foreign investments in addition to the peace process which will lead to real stability in the area.

The following is text of President Mubarak's statements:

Question: in spite of the fact that Egypt stressed on more than one occasion, in statements made by Your Excellency, the importance of sending international observers to Palestinian territories, Israel Radio said that Egypt agreed to reject the idea of the existence of international obsevers at the present time in response to Israel`s vision in this respect. What is the truth of such reports?

President mubarak: we do not respond to Israel`s wish. we go along with the wish of peace. If peace requires something, we approve it and support it. We do not support it in response to the wish of one person or another or Israel or anybody else. Israel makes such reports because it has a goal behind this.

First: we do not reject.

The Egypian delegation went to Washington to talk with American officials about the issue of observers in accordance to what had been agreed upon at the G-8 summit. The situation remains unclear up till now. Most officials there are on vacation. I do not believe that they will take a decision these days. But we went to explain the picture. We said that if there was no agreement to send American observers, think of sending European observers.

I fear that observers are afraid that an Israeli or a Palestinian would hit one of them. A country which sends obsevers takes this into consideration.

I stress that there was no sincere intention to stop fighting.

Observers or others cannot do anything. There should be a sure intention to stabilise peace in the area.

Without stabilising peace, all will suffer, foremost among them Israel.

They imagine that all they do will bring security to the Israeli citizen. I tell them: no. This will not realise security for the Israeli citizen. It would lead to acts of violence without limit and acts of vengeance without an end.

We should avoid this if we are really concerned about peace.

Question: You sent a delegation to Washington. Can you explain the plans, proposals or visions which the delegation carried in order to stop violence and perhaps put the peace process back on its track?

President Mubarak: The idea of stopping violence is an impossible issue. Nobody in the world can stop violence. It exists everywhere. I said that to Israeli Television. But the aim is to reduce tension.

The Egyptian delegation went to Washington to explain the truth about the situation from our point of view, because we are fair and we do not side with this or that. We side with peace and stability in the area.

The (Egyptian) delegation explained the situation in its entirety to the U.S. Secretary of State (Colin Powell), who began a two-week vacation today, and also national security adviser Condoleeza Rice.

They discussed all issues about the implementation of the Mitchell Commission`s report. The matter needs time. But if there is a will on the part of the two parties, there is a way to a solution.

Question: The newspapers reported that there are intensive contacts between Cairo and a number of Arab and European capitals and that you will go on a tour at the end of this month and the beginning of next month. What are the goals of this tour and what is the Egyptian point of view towards what is taking place on the ground?

President Mubarak: We have relations with most countries of the world, European or Arab. I was thinking of making a tour at the end of this month. But I found out that most of the leaders will be on vacation and would cut short their vacation to meet me.

Therefore I decided to make the tour in September at an appropriate time.

Our relations with Arab countries are extremely excellent. And our relations with European countries are excellent. If there will be a tour, we shall discuss bilateral relations between egypt and these countries and increasing foreign investments in our country.

and above all we shall talk about the peace process. this is the main issue which leads to real stability in the area. I shall explain our point of view without taking the side of any of the two parties.

Question: What is precisely the visions which the Egyptian high-level delegation presented to the U.S. administration? Have you felt, so far, an understanding or acceptance from it (the U.S.

administration) of these visions.

President Mubarak: the U.S. administration, as I understand, does what it can. But circumstances are not as easy as some imagine.

The egyptian delegation did not go (to Washington) with a certain initiative.

It went to explain the situation and conditions in honesty and sincerity so that the fact may be known.

It (the U.S. administration) hears one thing from the Israelis and may hear something else from the Palestinians.

We tell the truth in full. We have no interest in supporting this or that. I say -- and I repeat -- that Egypt supports peace.

Question: In the light of Israeli policies of committing assassintions and threatening to make incursions into Palestinian territories, there is an Arab diplomatic move at the level of calling a meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers and also at the Security Council. Is there something new to assure the Arab street in the face of Israeli threats.

President Mubarak: I cannot say that there is something new. But the effort for which the Arab Foreign Ministers would have been called, has taken place. The Security Council will meet on Monday.

All this with the aim of attempting to stop violence and protect the Palestinians as far as possible.

But as regards the policy of chasing Palestinian citizens and Palestinian leaderships, I say to the Israeli leadership: You are committing a grave mistake against the Israeli people and I shall not talk about anybody else because there will be continued violence after this and acts of vengeance.

What is the crime of a citizen at his home who wants to live and fears to go to the supermarket out of fear of an explosion? You cannot ask the other party to stop when you demolish their homes and kill them. There is something wrong in Israeli policy.

The Israeli leadership should sit and find out what is wrong. Acts of violence will not produce any good result. The result is bad and dangerous.

Question: The Israeli Prime Minister (Ariel Sharon) undermines the legitimacy of the Palestinian authority in spite of calls and appeals from all over the world. What is next?

President Mubarak: Matters are moving in the direction of a vicious circle. Violence shall not stop. And so long as he (Sharon) adopts this policy, matters will not come to an end at all.

Previous Stories:
  The new US ambassador arrives in Cairo today   (8/17/2001)
  Egyptian FM confers with US official   (8/17/2001)
  Egyptian delegation under Baz meets Powell Friday   (8/16/2001)

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