Maher conveys message to Mubarak from Musharraf
Egypt-Pakistan, Politics, 11/22/2001

Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher Monday said he conveyed a verbal message to President Hosni Mubarak from Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in reply to a previous one delivered to Musharraf during Maher's visit to Pakistan that ended Tuesday.

Maher also submitted a report to Mubarak on his meeting with Pakistani officials and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Rashed AL Neimi.

On his way back to Cairo from the UAE, Maher said in statements to reporters that his talks with Neimi focused on the two sides' willingness to see quick stability and a broad-based government in Afghanistan.

Maher voiced fear that divisions could take place among the Afghan factions.

The Foreign Minister said he also had discussed with his UAE counterpart the situation in the Middle East in light of the recent speech by US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Maher considered the speech positive in many aspects, noting that Powell touched on the suffering of the Palestinian people and underlined the necessity of protecting the pride of the those people.

For the first time, Maher noted, the speech contained a reference to the occupied Palestinian territories, instead of saying there were disputed lands, and the speech also talked about the establishment of a Palestinian state capable of surviving.

Maher said he hoped that Powell's speech would be put into effect.

"Israel might not be satisfied with some points in the speech, but it said it accepted it," Maher said.

"If there are good wills, we hope that this represents a positive shift in Israel's.

Maher cited Powell's reference to the creation of a viable Palestinian State "which has all components of statehood."

He noted other positive aspects in the address such as the necessity of halting Jewish Settlements.

Maher highlighted that Powell has addressed what the Palestinians have been suffering in terms of provocations and insults.

Asked whether Powell's address has neglected Oslo agreement in the peace process, Maher said, "Oslo agreement aims at establishing a Palestinian state which has been cited in the address."

This crowns Oslo agreement, he added.

Maher concluded that Oslo was a transitional stage and "We draw nearer towards establishing the Palestinian State."

Previous Stories:
  Musharraf receives message from Mubarak on Afghan crisis   (11/20/2001)
  Egyptian-Pakistani relations, cordial and profound   (2/24/2001)
  Joint Egyptian - Pakistani meeting in Islamabad at end of this year   (4/21/2000)

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