Maher asserts following up Arab FMs resolutions
Egypt, Politics, 12/27/2001

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher asserted that the resolutions reached by the Arab foreign ministers conference in Cairo last week will be followed up at the Arab, international and UN levels.

In an interview with Tunisian Al-Sabah newspaper of Wednesday, Maher said the conference was successful and the ministers agreed on a number of core issues as reflected in the final communique.

He voiced belief that the current situation in the Palestinian territories and the Israeli policy of suppression cannot go on for long, pointing out that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon promised his people with security and peace which were never realized.

He noted a positive change in the US stance, adding that the US stance could be persuaded and shifted to a positive direction through more political moves.

As for combating terrorism, Maher said Egypt has abided by the regulations whether within the UN framework of international legitimacy resolutions.

Regarding the Egyptian and Arab detainees in the United States who are being cross-examined for a possible involvement in the September 11 attacks, the foreign minister voiced belief that the majority of the Egyptian detainees have nothing to do with terrorism.

"They were only detained for expired visas or passport's many other administrative reasons," he said.

"Egypt and the Arab countries in general have fought terrorism for years and the United States and Europe joined in, and not the opposite after having been convinced of the need cooperate in this respect," he added.

As for the repercussions of the September 11 events and the Afghan war on Egypt economically, Maher said they were very negative and if the crisis continued for another year the losses would exceed $ 3 billion.

"Losses in the tourism sector could reach 50 percent, but an improvement is expected in the spring," he said.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt exchanges information with Washington on ways of confronting terrorism   (12/26/2001)
  Fiqi: Israel has gone beyond all limits   (12/26/2001)
  Mubarak probes with Chinese Foreign Minister latest international developments   (12/26/2001)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search