Mubarak calls on US to adopt a clear-cut attitude towards the peace process
Egypt, Politics, 8/27/2001

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met with Egyptian university youth, a tradition which the President is keen to observe every year to hold a democratic and frank dialogue with them.

Minister of Higher Education Moufid Shihab opened the meeting with an address in which he welcomed President Mubarak, pointing out that the President was keen to observe this annual tradition of meeting with university youth.

Minister of Information Safwat Al-Sherif said that President Mubarak met first with university presidents and held with them a dialogue in the presence of the Prime Minister and a number of ministers.

At the meeting, President Mubarak listened to a short speech from Shihab in which he presented to the President Zawahry who obtained the State Prize of Merit in appreciation his scientific achievements and 150 researches at the international level.

Shihab also presented Mohamed Ghoneim who founded the world-famous Mansoura Kidney Centre in addition to 149 researches at the international level.

The President said that he was happy to note that many came from abroad to receive treatment at the kidney centre.

President Mubarak then held a meeting with university presidents and discussed with them the role of universities and their relation with the labour market and the link between the university and the environment.

The President told them that youth are a trust in your hands because they will mold life in future.

President Mubarak then talked about the peace process and discussed its details.

He said that realizing peace requires strong leaders capable of taking decision and rise to the level of responsibility.

The President warned against taking the substance out of the peace process or transgressing on international legitimacy or the principles laid down at conferences. He referred to the Madrid Conference and the land-for-peace principle.

He wondered at those who criticized the Egyptian press forgetting that it enjoyed freedom which is protected by the Constitution and law.

Mubarak said that what increased his wonder was that such criticism came from countries which claim to enjoy democracy.

President Mubarak said that he was happy to hold this meeting with university youth in August every year. It provided an opportunity for him to present a full picture about what goes on in their minds.

He said that the area was passing through complicated conditions as regards the peace process and the repercussions of failing to honour international agreements on economy whether globalization or the GATT.

"We have to accept what is taking place and develop ourselves for the sake of this people," he said.

A student asked a question about the visit of a high-level three-man diplomatic team which the President sent to Washington earlier this month led by Presidential Political Adviser Osama Al-Baz and including Ambassador Maged Abdel Fattah, President Mubarak's Secretary for Information, and Egypt's Ambassador in Washington Nabil Fahmy.

He explained that realizing peace in the area is his main preoccupation. This is related to realizing stability. It is a very difficult process in the light of Israeli intransigence.

President Mubarak said that he had sent several messages to US President George Bush in which he pointed out the gravity of the situation, considering that the United States is the main partner in the peace process and has the capability to be decisive and play a positive role in stopping military operations of revenge and violence.

The President said that he had sent the Egyptian team to Washington when he felt that the US administration did not have the facts about what was taking place and the acts which Israel was committing.

"The visit was important in order to clarify facts, particularly as Israel was sending delegations to the United States and it was necessary to correct any misconception," the President said.

President Mubarak said that military operations, violence or terrorism will not decide the issue. No issues were decided in that manner before. It was necessary to correct ideas which were dictated on the American side by Israel.

"We still believe that the United States can play a positive role to stabilize peace, stop violence and carry out the Mitchell Commission's recommendations," the President said.

Minister of Information Safwat Al-Sherif said President Mubarak explained that the visit of the Egyptian delegation to Washington had several results, foremost among which was to stress to the United States, the main sponsor of the peace process, that it was necessary to uphold the Madrid terms of reference for the peace process, particularly Resolutions 242 and 338 and the land-for-peace principle.

"The United States has to take additional steps and not to confine itself to making appeals to the parties to cease fire," the President said.

President Mubarak said that the Egyptian delegation which went to Washington stressed that it was important to go beyond the ceasefire and enter the stage of political negotiations.

The President stressed that the importance of sending observers to monitor the ceasefire and to see that Israel carries out its obligations.

"Sending observers is a necessity. There should be no hesitation or fear on the part of some countries. The existence of observers means commitment of each party to its obligations," the President said. "The matter is still under consideration," he added.

But if hesitation continued for a longer period, acts of violence will continue and no one can determine who was the aggressor.

The President said that the Egyptian team conveyed to Washington a message that continuation of violence will affect "our interests and will have a negative impact on the interests of the United States." "An attitude should be taken so that we may not reach a point at which it would not be possible to reach a solution," the President said.

Minister of Information Safwat Al-Sherif said that President Mubarak told the students that what we say behind closed doors we say it in public.

"The situation calls for an American stand. If there is hesitation, this will be dangerous to the area," the President said.

Referring to statements made by Israeli Defence Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer in which he said that the Israeli army had so far killed 600 Palestinians and wounded about 10,000, President Mubarak warned that this stirs public opinion.

To those who make such statements, we firmly say: No because this represents a danger to the two sides. Not only to the Palestinian people but to the Israelis also.

The President asked: how do officials in Israel think? How can they continue a war for 50 years? This will not realise stability or security for the Israeli people.

President Mubarak said that terrorism is more difficult than war. No one can determine the direction of terrorism, when it will take place or from where it would come.

All in the Israeli street now fear to go to a public place. They are accusing others. They have to ask themselves first: Where is Israeli security? They should know that (Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat) cannot control everything.

Minister of Information Safwat Al-Sherif said that President Mubarak read statements made by an Israeli intelligence official in Paris in which he claimed that Egyptian intelligence had set up a "land and a sea bridge", at directives from President Mubarak personally, to smuggle arms from Egypt to the Palestinian Authority.

President Mubarak asked: Till when Israel will continue to seek a peg on which to hang its shortcoming? And if there were bridges, what have they done in Israel?

Addressing "that man", President Mubarak asked him to try to find the cause of his shortcoming before hanging it on the peg of others.

The President continued: "Whenever something takes place there (in Israel) which they cannot face, they try to find someone on whom to put the blame, whether Mubarak or Arafat or others. They spread rumours every day.

President Mubarak said that when he decided to rest for two days and Arafat came to Egypt and they could not meet in spite of continued contacts between them, they claimed that Mubarak had distanced himself from Arafat.

The President added: We have to see the picture clearly. There are mistakes in Israeli policy.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon does not know politics. He knows only violence and war.

This will not realise the security he had promised the Israeli people. He has to take immediate steps to lift the siege (imposed on Palestinian territories) so that negotiations may begin.

President Mubarak explained that in the light of the siege imposed on the Palestinian people it is difficult to stop violence.

Siege makes Palestinians despair and forces them to sacrifice everything. They feel that there is nothing left for them and that this will continue.

There is something wrong in Israeli policy which should be corrected. It is the cause of existing violence. They have to understand this and be aware of it, the President said.

Minister of Information Safwat Al-Sherif said that President Mubarak referred to Israeli claims that Arafat was the cause of not reaching an agreement at Camp David II (which was held under the auspices of former US President Bill Clinton).

President Mubarak cited articles written by Clinton's secretary in which he said that former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak was the cause for not reaching agreement at Camp David II.

President Mubarak recalled that telephone contacts took place between him and Clinton in which the former US President said that Arafat would take a decision and wanted support.

President Mubarak said: If Arafat's decision is to restore land, I shall support him. If Arafat's decision is to seek sovereignty on Jerusalem, I shall support him.

I am fully aware that Arafat cannot accept to place Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty, his position was clear. Later, they said that President Mubarak was the cause.

President Mubarak added: This tone continues and does not stop.

The President said that he had informed Clinton that he supported Arafat and knew that Arafat could not take a decision which would place Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty.

Minister of Information Safwat Al-Sherif said that President Mubarak recalled that when Clinton came to Egypt, President Mubarak made it clear to him that no Arab or Islamic country would accept that Jerusalem be placed under Israeli sovereignty.

"Only under peace, there can be free movement to perform religious rites, Arafat, at Camp David, was ready to leave the Wailing Wall and the Jewish quarter to the Israelis and retain the Christian, Islamic and Armenian quarters," President Mubarak said.

The President said that the two sides made concession at the last meetings which were attended by Clinton. But because time was short, no agreement could be reached.

President Mubarak explained that Arab countries were doing their utmost and no call could be made to boycott the United States.

He pointed out that it was Sharon's visit to the Aqsa Mosque in the time of Barak which sparked the Intifada.

Barak could not prevent Sharon because of electoral maneuvers which brought to power Sharon who knows only war and destruction.

Minister of Information Safwat Al-Sherif said that President Mubarak asked that the Arab lobby in the United States should play a more effective and active role similar to that of the Jewish lobby.

"From this place, I once again call on the Untied States to adopt a clear position towards the peace process to prove its credibility and restore its position in the Arab world," President Mubarak said. The President explained that asking for self-restraint and cease-fire without taking a practical measure will be to no avail.

"The United States, by washing its hands of the peace process or leaving it to Israel, would have grave repercussions," President Mubarak warned.

In reply to a question form a student on America's bias to Israel although the Untied States is sponsor of peace, President Mubarak said: In spite of our difference with the United States in its way of dealing with the peace process, the United States shall remain the main sponsor of the peace process.

Washington has the influence. But the Jewish lobby plays an influential role. Hence, I stress that it is important that the Arab lobby plays a counter role.

President Mubarak said that Cairo makes its remarks on American policy through messages and envoys sent to the US Administration explaining the gravity of adopting a negative position and explaining that it was dangerous to use double standards in dealing with the peace process.

The United States has wide interests in Arab countries. "We shall exert every effort to ensure that the United States undertakes, a role because we want peace," President Mubarak said.

On human rights standards applied by the Untied States on the Palestinians and not on the Israelis, Minister of Information Safwat Al-Sherif said President Mubarak wondered that human rights become bigger and wider to include all aspects of life without regard to values and principles in which peoples believe.

He said that American and European standards of human rights cannot be the basis which is imposed on the peoples of the Middle East.

The United States cannot be the only arbiter as regards human rights violations.

Other international forces have begun to move to confront these violations. "We have to point out these violations and use all means and all legal measures to expose them.

Israel tries to drive a wedge in order to have monopoly of dealing with the United States. "But we have our minds and we weigh matters."

In reply to a question on Israeli intransigence under Sharon, President Mubarak said that the government of Sharon came to power under the slogan of realizing security for Israel. It tried to do this through repression against the Palestinian people.

Security has not been realized and the Israeli people are living in permanent fear. They cannot practice their daily duties. This is due to Sharon's policies and actions.

There is something wrong in Israel's policy, the President said.

The use of siege, starvation, demolishing homes and depriving the Palestinians from work will have a counter result. It will have negative repercussions on the security of the people of Israel. Israeli policy leads to more violence and more suicidal acts which are beyond the control of the Palestinian Authority.

President Mubarak said that Israel should realize that the policy of liquidating Palestinian readerships, occupying places in Jerusalem such as Orient House will not provide security for the Israeli citizen.

"Egypt is exerting utmost effort and Israel should abandon the call to "stop the violence" as the basis of resuming negotiations," the President said.

The President expressed regret at statements coming out from the United States which ask Israel only for self-restraint and place on Arafat's shoulders the responsibility for detaining and bringing to trial those who commit acts of violence.

Relations between Egypt and Sudan are eternal, historic and deep and shall continue to be so.

Egypt has strong contacts with, both north and south. We exert utmost effort to maintain unity of Sudan territory.

The President said that the Egyptian-Libyan initiative has been accepted by all parties as a basis for a settlement.

Discussions took place to activate the initiative on the sidelines of the African Summit.

There is a common movement at present among neighbouring countries which is represented in the IGAD initiative. Serious movement leads to results as we hope.

President Mubarak stressed that Egypt's interest in Sudan is old and historic. "Egypt fully wants to see stability in sisterly Sudan," the President said.

President Mubarak said that he believes in having good relations with all countries of the world.

Relations between Egypt and Iran are historic. There are old ties.

Those relations deteriorated after former President Anwar Al-Sadat visited Jerusalem and after Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel at a time which coincided with the change of leadership in Iran.

The substance of difference revolves on the signing of the Camp David agreement.

President Mubarak said that he had explained to the Iranians that Camp David was a document of principles. The Palestinians rejected the document which concerns them in solving the entire case.

The document which concerns Egypt laid down the foundations and borders in order to establish peace between Egypt and Israel. The result was the restoration of Egyptian territory in full.

President Mubarak said that the Palestinian document allowed for the return of land. The number of Israeli settlements at that time did not exceed 18.

President Mubarak told the Iranian Foreign Minister when they met that President Sadat had consulted with the Shah of Iran before going to Jerusalem. The Shah was one of the strong supporters of entering into peace relations with Israel.

The President said that Iran, the state, encouraged and approved the initiative regardless of who was in power.

President Mubarak said that he looked forward to good relations with Iran to be established on objective bases away from interfering in internal affairs and which would provide S security and stability for us.

President Mubarak said that dealing with the outside world has become a fact and a necessity. In the light of signing the world trade agreement and the Egyptian-European partnership agreement, efforts are being made and they are inevitable to raise the standard of production.

The Egyptian government is committed to an integrated plan to develop Egyptian factories so that Egyptian products may be able to compete on European markets.

Minister of Information Safwat Al-Sherif said that President Mubarak stressed that it was important to develop policies to remove obstacles in the way of exports. Exports are extremely important.

The government is taking measures to move forward to what is better and to encourage investment and economy. But this may take some time.

Studied policies should be drawn up to remove the cause of stagnation. These issues will be considered at a ministerial meeting which will be held shortly under the chairmanship of President Mubarak.

On the role of political parties, President Mubarak said that they should develop their performance.

President Mubarak said that the national and foreign private sector should be encouraged to play its role in pushing forward the wheel of growth.

The President said that this year's budget stands at L.E. 110 billion of which L.E. 45 billion are for wages in addition to the burden borne for education, health and services.

The President said that education is free and shall remain free. "Do not listen to those who raise doubts about free education."

President Mubarak said that spending on education is a real investment. Free Education is in the interest of the masses.

Speaking of unemployment, the President said the government was doing its utmost to provide job opportunities.

President Mubarak said major projects do not bring speedy return. But we are moving ahead with steady and studied steps.

The president said that 67 percent of work at Toshka has been completed. At the pumping station, 72 percent of the work has been done. Work has begun on experimental plantations.

President Mubarak urged university youth to play sports since a young age. President Mubarak said he is keen to play sports daily because of its beneficial effect. Those who play sports have a big ability to make sound thinking.

The State supports sports activity through the Ministry of Youth or universities.

The President promised to open the Universities Youth Week which will be held at Assiut, Upper Egypt, in 2003. One of the students had asked the President to honor the event with his presence.

Previous Stories:
  Foreign Affairs Council urges monitoring human rights in Palestine   (8/25/2001)
  Maher heads Egypt's delegation to anti-racism conference   (8/25/2001)
  Mubarak to receive sultan Qaboos and meet with university students   (8/25/2001)

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