Egypt welcomes EU stance on Palestinian cause
Egypt-European Union, Politics, 1/30/2002

Egypt welcomes the EU Foreign Ministers' statement issued Monday in Brussels, said Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher late Tuesday.

"Egypt agrees with the basic points included in the EU statement on the Palestinian cause, the Middle East peacemaking drive and steps to find a way out of the current logjam," Maher said.

Maher referred in particular to the EU assertion that Yasser Arafat is the sole legitimate representative and elected leader of the Palestinian people.

He also highlighted EU criticism of Israel's demolition of vital Palestinian installations as well as its demand for an Israeli withdrawal from re-occupied Palestinian areas, halt of physical liquidations and lifting of siege.

Asked whether he had contacted his European counterparts after the issuance of the statement, Maher spoke of "continued contacts with the EU member-states.

Commenting on reports about a meeting in Washington next week between EU and US officials to salvage the peace process, Maher said "if the American Administration convenes a meeting with the EU and listens to these wise opinions, it would undoubtedly have a positive impact on the Administration's decisions and the situation in general." Maher called on Israel to respond to the voice of reason coming from the 15-member EU. He denies any enmity between EU member-states and Israel, asserting that European countries take objective positions and assess the situation correctly.

On the envisaged US-EU-UN-Russia meeting in Washington, Maher said the four-way meeting is nothing new. "The new development is that the EU is attending the four-way meeting this time with a clear and strong stance." Commenting on the projected visit of Israeli Defence Minister Benjamin Ben Eleizer to Egypt Wednesday, Maher said the visit would have taken place a while ago but it was decided to have it now.

Being the elected leader of the Israeli Labour Party and the Defence Minister, Ben Eleizer has a role in drawing up Israeli policies.

Contacts with him, therefore, are part of Egyptian efforts to influence negotiation resumptions, Maher asserted.

Talks with Israeli officials come in the hope that they would listen to reason and have specific results for what they hear from Egypt, he added.

"We have to try and keep trying because the situation is grave and it is necessary to use all possible political ways to put an end to this dangerous situation," Maher stressed.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak receives Spanish Foreign Minister   (1/16/2002)
  Maher, Pique discuss Mideast cause, international developments   (1/16/2002)
  Egypt 's FM meets with EU ambassadors accredited in Cairo   (1/16/2002)

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