Mubarak, Solana discuss peace developments, European initiative
Egypt-European Union, Politics, 3/2/2002

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Thursday received EU High Commissioner for Security and Foreign Affairs Javier Solana who arrived on Wednesday coming from Saudi Arabia for a visit to Egypt within the context of a tour which took him to Palestinian self-rule areas and Israel.

The tour includes also Jordan. The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, the EU Mideast peace envoy Miguel Moratinos and Spanish ambassador to Egypt Pedro Lopez Aguirrebongoa.

It took up outcome of Solana's talks with Palestinian, Israeli and Saudi officials.

The EU official will get acquainted with Mubarak's view towards the coming European drives aiming at containing the situation in the Middle East and the European initiative to be adopted by the EU heads of state and government during their summit set for March 15-16 in Barcelona.

Solana left for Saudi Arabia on Wednesday on a surprise visit for talks on a peace plan launched by Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdel-Aziz. The Saudi plan calls upon the Arab states to recognise Israel and to set up relations with it in return for a complete withdrawal from the Arab territories it occupied in 1967.

In statements to reporters Solana described his meeting with President Mubarak as very good, adding that they tackled the Middle East issue.

He referred to his visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, saying he met with Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdel Aziz in the wake of his visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories.

He said he will fly to Jordan Thursday then visit Washington on Monday and Tuesday for talks with the US side and give momentum to the Mideast peace process.

The Saudi crown prince launched an initiative which will be developed through the approval of all Arab leaders during the upcoming Arab summit in Beirut on March 27-28 so that it would become an Arab initiative by all the Arab nations, he added.

The European Union supports such initiative and wishes it could realize peace in the region, he said, adding that the EU will resume efforts and intensive consultations with President Mubarak.

Solana met later Thursday with Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher before heading for Jordan.

Solana termed his talks with Maher as "very good as they came in resumption of his talks with President Hosni Mubarak earlier in -he day, noting that the meeting took up the Mideast peace process and the current situation in the area.

Solania said he came to Egypt after a visit to Saudi Arabia where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah to exchange viewpoints on the latest regional developments.

The EU official stressed that all sides have one aim; realizing peace as soon as possible.

He noted that the Saudi initiative is supported by President Mubarak and King Abdullah II of Jordan.

Solana highlighted the importance of the convocation of the coming Arab summit in Beirut, hoping that the summit would lead to the adoption of good and collective decisions that could contribute to achieving peace.

Regarding Palestinian fears that Israel might make use of the initiative to develop its relations with Saudi Arabia instead of making progress towards peace, Solana noted that he has not been informed of the Palestinian side's proposals.

Solana pointed out that he held detailed talks with Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat two days ago and found a positive response from him.

"Prince Abdullah told me that the Saudi ideas will be enveloped into a purely Arab initiative after being developed and approved by all Arab leaders in the next summit," said Solana.

On whether peace is accessible with Israeli, while Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in charge, Solana said, "The situation is extremely critical. But it is very important to reach peace as fast as possible.

Any initiative, proposal or idea should be capitalized on to achieve peace instantly.

He said he does not believe that the US is skeptical about the Saudi initiative.

He pointed out that Mitchell report, to which he contributed, is just a guiding outline for any steps to usher into the final-status negotiations between the two sides.

"All these initiatives are finally streamlined into the course of efforts to reach peace," he added.

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