Mubarak-Fischer talks on European proposals to break current impasse in the region
Egypt-Germany, Politics, 2/16/2002

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Thursday received German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer.

Fischer is on a tour of the region including the Palestinian self-rule areas and Israel to activate the Mideast peace process.

Fischer's tour follows the European Union (EU) Foreign Ministers meeting in the southwest Spanish City of Caceres Saturday in which they decided to dispatch a number of European Foreign Ministers to the Middle East to probe means of activating peace process.

At a press conference with Maher, Fischer said that all the parties in the region and the international community need ideas to give a shot in the arm to the Middle East peace process as the situation in the region is very dangerous.

"Europe, adjacent to the Middle East region, has a direct interest in peace there through negotiations between the Arab and Israeli sides," he said.

The German Foreign Minister described the talks held Thursday with President Mubarak as very useful and took place in a cordial atmosphere, adding that he had good discussions with Mubarak.

We have new ideas that were discussed before on many occasions, said Fischer, adding "what we need now is to find a way or a key to open the currently closed door".

"The discussions are a good start to reach this objective," said the German Foreign Minister.

On the possibility of combining several European ideas recently raised whether on the part of France or Germany into one European initiative, Fischer said that this is what he really hopes for.

On whether there are splits amidst the European side over the peace process, Fischer denied any splits, noting discussions are always open among EU member states and the European stance in this regard is unified.

He said that he will head for Israel and the Palestinian Authority-controlled areas within the framework of the European endeavours, pointing out that EU Foreign Policy and Security Commissioner Javier Solana is embarking on similar efforts. "Egypt, Jordan and the EU stand on the same side," he said.

On whether the US criticism of the recent European ideas on Mideast peace, will dilute the European role, the German Foreign Minister said he has not encountered any criticism from the United States.

He said he had a phone call Wednesday with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, adding all are pursuing a halt of violence and return to the negotiation table.

On how he, as a European minister, views US President George W.Bush's classification of certain countries as the axis of evil, Fischer said that this approach is not pursued by the Europeans.

"We believe that the international coalition against terrorism is very successful but we should be cautious over the new trend," said Fischer.

He pinpointed that Iraq should be committed fully to the UN Security Council resolutions and open its borders before international inspectors.

On his part, Maher said that the Mitchell recommendations and Tenet report are the proposals that are still in the foreground, noting that the German Foreign Minister's statements on the necessity to have a "key" means activating the already existing initiatives.

On whether the coming period would witness an Egyptian European-US coordination, particularly after the phone contact between President Mubarak and US President Bush, Maher said that the European and American roles are important and coordination between them is required.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak receives Fischer   (2/14/2002)
  Palestinian question, international terrorism: German priorities   (11/10/2001)
  Mubarak and Schroeder call for combating terrorism   (9/26/2001)

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