Mubarak, al-Assad emphasize commitment to bolster Palestinian cause
Syria-Egypt, Politics, 9/4/2001

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak returned home last night after a brief visit to Syria during which he held talks with President Bashar al-Assad on means of reviving the stalled Middle East peace process.

Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Moustafa Mero and several other ministers were present at the meeting held at a presidential palace in the Syrian Mediterranean city of Latakia, some 325 km (200 miles) northwest of Damascus.

Mubarak and Assad agreed to intensify joint efforts to urge the international community to intervene more actively in the Middle East crisis.

Minister of Information Safwat el-Sherif said the talks covered the dangers resulting from Tel Aviv's continued provocations and its deliberate intention to derail the peace process by refusing the principles on which the process of negotiations were based from the start.

He added that UN resolutions and the land-for-peace problem were essential for any satisfactory settlement in the region.

He added that the two leaders also discussed the outcome of their individual contacts to press the international community to face its responsibility and pressure Israel to stop its campaign of aggression against the Palestinians.

He added that the two leaders agreed that senior officials on both sides should meet regularly to fine-tune efforts aimed at increasing international awareness of the need to revitalise the peace process.

The Syrian Minister of Information, Adnan Omran, told reporters the two leaders had emphasised their commitment to promoting the Palestinian cause and their determination to restore all Arab rights, including Palestinian statehood.

"This is an unshaken position adopted during summit meetings in Cairo and Amman," he said.

He added that Damascus was always in favour of activating peace talks.

"We made it abundantly clear that Syria was in favour of a just peace without sacrificing any of its rights," he said.

Mubarak's visit to Syria follows talks he held with Jordan's King Abdullah in Egypt on Saturday.The two leaders denounced Israel's "policy of assassinations" against Palestinians and called for peace talks.

Egyptian officials said Mubarak's visit to Damascus was part of an Arab and European tour aimed at presenting an Arab view aimed at reviving the stalled Arab-Israeli negotiations and restoring calm to the Israeli-occupied territories.

Mubarak would rally support for the implementation of former US Senator George Mitchell's plan aimed at ending the violence.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak, Assad underline intensifying efforts to salvage peace   (9/3/2001)
  Mubarak in Damascus for talks with Assad   (9/3/2001)
  Solid and deep relations linking Syria and Egypt   (9/1/2001)

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