Egypt France consultations reflect identical views
Egypt-France, Politics, 11/10/2001

The Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will meet next Monday with French President Jacques Chirac, who will visit Egypt, within the framework of his meetings with a number of world leaders.

The visit acquires special significance in view of the world turbulence and Middle East tensions.

Egyptian ambassador to France Ali Maher said that President Chirac is fully aware of the pivotal role played by President Mubarak during the current critical international events.

Maher added that President Chirac will hold talks with President Mubarak as part of intensive diplomatic activities.

Paris plays a role in defining international policies and is concerned at this stage with holding consultations and coordination with President Mubarak in order to establish global stability and peace, he added. He further said that the agenda of talks between the two leaders is expected to include ways to combat terrorism, not limited to military action.

Combating terror also needs political, social, and humanitarian sides. Chirac has new ideas in this respect and would like to get the support of Egypt and President Mubarak.

French Ambassador to Egypt, Francois Dopffer, said the visit of French President Jacques Chirac to Egypt on Monday acquires a special importance as it coincides with violence in the Middle East in particular and the world at large.

Dopffer said Mubarak-Chirac talks will focus on the international situation in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, especially the Palestinian tragedy.

Embracing identical views by both Egypt and Europe should be conducive to unified stances, especially that Egypt and France are two active states in the region.

Foreign Minister, Ahmed Maher, yesterday accused the Israeli government of inconsistency and urged the US to follow up on its "positive statements" about the creation of the Palestinian state with Israel.

Speaking after a meeting with US Ambassador in Cairo David Welch, the Egyptian official said :

"We hear from the Israeli government conflicting statements."

Maher said that he would confer with US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, next week during participation in a UN General Assembly meeting, "Current contacts at different levels either between the US and Europe or between Egypt and the US or between Egypt and Europe are all aimed at making progress in the Middle East problem which is facing a difficult situation because the Israeli government is not interested in peace.

Maher added that the US envoy had briefed him on the results of talks by French President Jacques Chirac and British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Washington.

"The Israelis would come forward if they have something new and positive," he said.

"It is obvious that the Israelis have nothing positive to offer."

Maher further said that he will visit Washington to meet with the Congress members.

On the other hand, the British newspapers revealed that British Prime Minister Tony Blair urged US President George Bush to support a new initiative on the Middle East, that makes it possible to restart the peace process.

The "Guardian" quoted British official sources as saying that "the US Administration currently studies a statement that supports, in principle, the creation of a Palestinian statement.

Once this statement is agreed it will be declared by Secretary of State Colin Powell, who will inform Israel that the present deadlock, including the re-occupation of Palestinian cities and villages, will not result in any advantage to the Middle East or to Israel.

After his meeting with Secretary General of Arab League Amr Moussa, British Foreign Minister Jack Straw said that Britain will sustain its pressures on Israel and the Palestinians in order to attain a settlement that guarantees the establishment of a durable Palestinian State, and the security of Israel.

Straw welcomed the statement of Amr Moussa in which he asserted that Osama Bin Laden does not talk in the name of Arabs and Muslims.

The British minister voiced his belief that the reaction of Arabs and Muslims to the recent remarks of Bin Laden confirms that such propagandistic initiative of Al-Qaeda leader has produced adverse results.

In Berlin, the German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder addressed the Bundstag, and said that the European heads of state and governments have agreed in their mini-summit in London on the necessity of having a high-level motion to solve the Palestinian cause.

On the other hand, Nabil Shaath, Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation said that he will meet during the coming hours with US officials, to discuss the US peace initiative in the Middle East.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak's anti-terrorism conference is step in right direction   (11/6/2001)
  Chirac supports Mubarak's call for anti-terror conference   (9/25/2001)
  Mubarak -Chirac talks dwell on terrorism-combat, Palestinian cause   (9/24/2001)

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