Mubarak asserts to Sharon the need for making breakthrough in peace
Egypt-Israel, Politics, 3/12/2002

Egyptian President Mubarak has underlined the need for making a genuine breakthrough in the peace process and easing down siege on Palestinian leadership the Palestinian people and improving living conditions for Palestinians.

During a telephone call from Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last night, President Mubarak said this would enable Palestinian National Authority to play a more effective role in achieving stability and going ahead with the peace process.

The telephone conversation also underlined the need for exerting all possible efforts to contain violence, capitalizing on the US interest in the settlement efforts represented in the visit by US Vice President Dick Cheney and the assignment of US envoy Anthony Zinni to the region in the upcoming few days.

Meantime, the President, in a telephone call with Israeli Defence Minister Benjamin Ben Eliezer, asked Israel to halt military actions against Palestinians so that the two sides could take serious steps to break the cycle of violence and give a chance to efforts aimed at resuming political action.

In Washington, Secretary of State Colin Powell said that General Anthony Zinni the US envoy to the Middle East, who will arrive in the region in the upcoming few days will attempt to convince Israelis and Palestinians to halt violence as an essential step for opening the way to resumption of negotiations on the Palestinian peace track. Powell said acts of violence will not hinder the assignment of Zinni.

In statements to the CBS, Powell said that the Israeli Prime Minister should think of allowing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who is besieged in Ramallah, to take part in the upcoming summit in Beirut.

Powell said the United States was prepared to dispatch more observers with Zinni to monitor acts by both sides for ending violence in the framework of Mitchell report and Tenet plan.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt's ambassador to Spain denies al-Feilali testimony   (2/28/2002)
  Mubarak contacted Israeli defense minister   (2/25/2002)
  Sharon must stop military attacks on Palestinians   (2/21/2002)

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