Mubarak concerned over US retaliatory operation
Egypt-Regional, Politics, 9/25/2001

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak expressed concern over the repercussions of a possible US retaliatory operation, according to a diplomatic source at hotel Matignon, where Mubarak met with French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

"Mubarak voiced hope that the potential strike would not include an Arab country because this would have serious impact on the people and leaders of Arab countries," said the source.

President Mubarak stressed that Egypt completely denounces terrorism, from which it had suffered, he added.

"President Mubarak recalled that he was the first to call for holding an international anti-terrorism conference," said the source.

The Egyptian and French sides converge on the necessity to clinch an international agreement, under the UN umbrella, to deny terrorists the right to enjoy political asylum.

"Jospin, on his part, expressed France's determination to fight terrorism and that the international community must shoulder its responsibilities to remedy this epidemic that the whole world is suffering from," said the diplomatic source.

"Jospin urged the UN to provide all means and proper basis for international cooperation in this respect to deny and protection for terrorists and preclude any border infiltration, "he said.

The source highlighted Jospin's emphasis on avoiding confusion between terrorism on one hand and the Arab and Islamic worlds on the other.

"Jospin affirmed that France is supporting the United States and it's discussing with it the arrangements of any possible action," he said.

President Mubarak did not conceal, during his meeting with Jospin, an air of pessimism over the current situation and that he relies much on the diplomatic efforts of France, Europe and the United States in order to get out of the cycle of violence, added the source.

President Mubarak underlined that returning to the negotiations table as soon as possible is the only way to break the cycle of violence, noted the source.

Jospin outlined, on his part, the efforts exerted by France to get the Middle East region out of its current impasse, said the source.

"The premier reiterated to Mubarak the stand of the French leadership calling for resumption of negotiations to pave the way for implementation of the Mitchell recommendations," said the source.

Previous Stories:
  No proposals on holding OIC FMs' meeting   (9/22/2001)
  Maher contacts Arab, European officials on hot current issues   (9/20/2001)
  Mubarak contacts Arab leaders to reach unified stance   (9/20/2001)

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