Maher- Powell talks cover developments on Arab, international arenas
Egypt-USA, Politics, 11/28/2001

The Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher Tuesday morning left for New York on a four-day visit to the United States.

Maher is due to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and a number of American administration officials to discuss developments on the Arab and international arenas mainly the Middle East issue and means of reviving the negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis.

In pre-departure statements, Maher said his visit to the U.S. is important as it comes after Powell's address on reactivating the peacemaking and breathing life into it.

Maher urged the United States to act decisively and effectively to remove obstacles Israel still raises on the road to peace.

He said he would also meet with a number of congressmen to exchange views with them and expound Egypt's policy regarding the Palestinian cause, the issue of terrorism combat, and Egypt's proposal that the whole world should fight this phenomenon within the framework of international legitimacy.

After meeting with Powell, Maher is due to meet with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.

Maher's talks with the American officials will dwell on the latest Middle East developments, means to end violence and the success prospects for the American envoys' mission in the region.

The two sides will exchange viewpoints on the situation in Afghanistan in light of the Bonn Conference and the formation of a transitional afghan government under the UN sponsorship.

Talks will also cover activating mechanisms of partnership between Egypt and the U.S. in addition to the impact of the September 11 on the Egyptian economy.

Maher will begin his activities in Washington with meeting the Egyptian embassy staff in Washington as Egypt's ambassador to the US Nabil Fahmy will brief Maher on the conditions of Egyptians living in the US. in the wake of the September attacks.

Maher will also meet members of the Arab and Islamic communities in the US as well as those of the Jewish community to explain the policy Egypt adopts towards regional and international events.

On Saturday, Maher will head for New York where he will meet UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to review the UN's role in backing peace in the Middle East and the rest of the world.

Maher pointed out he would also discuss with the American administration bilateral ties at both the political and economic levels, stressing the importance of promoting the partnership agreement between Egypt and the US.

The two countries should also work to re-activate strategic dialogue between them in their mutual interests, to afford an opportunity for the two sides to discuss their policies, define points of differences in opinion so that they do not hinder progress of relations.

Maher described as "positive" Powell's recent address and stressed the importance that the American administration should move on the basis of ideas and principles included in his speech.

He noted that at a time we see an American drive represented in the dispatch of two envoys to the region, Israel exercises every kind of violence against the Palestinian people, killing children, assassinating Palestinian activists and shelling security positions in Gaza. Such provocative acts aim at escalating tension and aborting the American efforts, he added.

"One of the main urgent points he will discuss with the American side is how to prevent Israel from sabotaging the American, European and Russian good offices as well as Egypt's constant efforts to resume peace negotiations so that a just and comprehensive settlement is reached based on international legitimacy," he said.

On statements by Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres on the establishment of a Palestinian state, maher said Peres statements sometime show good intentions but the issue is more complicated than to be solved through good intentions only especially when such intentions could be translated into reality.

Previous Stories:
  Maher heads for Washington   (11/27/2001)
  Mubarak, Congress delegation discuss means of putting peace process back to track   (11/20/2001)
  US foreign relation council agrees on establishing institutional relations with Egypt   (11/20/2001)

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