Maher: Israel is not allowed to protest our sovereign decision
Egypt-Yemen, Politics, 4/8/2002

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher met late Sunday with visiting Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Korabi.

In statements following the meeting, Korabi described the Egyptian-Yemeni relations as excellent.

He affirmed that all Arab states have agreed on the resolutions adopted by the latest Arab summit in Beirut.

On his part, Maher said the meeting tackled the outcome of the recent Arab foreign ministers' meeting, held on Saturday, along with means of furthering bilateral relations.

Asked about the expected Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian self-rule areas in the coming few hours, Maher said the Israelis should first stop aggression on the Palestinian people and then pull out immediately.

Maher described as "not promising" statements given by Israeli officials who attempt to turn around the US withdrawal request.

These statements claim that the Israelis were given a deadline which is untrue as the US seeks a pullout without a delay, said Maher.

He denied reports carried by Arab press on an Israeli protest against the recent decision taken by the Egyptian government as regards stopping contacts with Israel.

Egypt does not allow Israel to protest a decision taken by its government, Maher said, adding that the Israelis do not protest against any Egyptian sovereign measure, he added.

Regarding US stance on the current situation, Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher pointed out that there is positive progress in the US stance and a realization that an action should be taken for protecting Palestinians' rights, effecting Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian lands and establishment of the Palestinian state.

"Nevertheless, there are stances of the Americans on which we don't agree. We emphasize that Arafat is the legitimate elected president of the Palestinian people and no one has the right to cast doubt upon this matter," said Maher.

He added that Israeli attempts to famish Palestinian people and prevent the injured from being rushed to hospitals are crimes to which no one could turn a blind eye.

The foreign minister also explained that what has happened in Afghanistan has nothing to do with what is taking place in Palestine. "The Afghanis didn't occupy American lands, while the Israelis are occupying Arab territories and insist on staying there. So, resisting occupation is a legitimate right," Maher elaborated.

"It is the Israeli forces that commit terrorist actions as they unjustifiably arrest and execute Palestinians, strike Palestinian cities and refugee camps by jet fighters," he remarked.

Maher noted that his Yemeni counterpart renewed an earlier invitation to him to visit Yemen. He added that he will visit Sanaa as soon as possible.

The Yemeni top diplomat said his meeting with Maher came as part of continued cooperation and coordination between Egypt and Yemen on all Arab issues, especially the Palestinian cause.

The Arab foreign ministers meeting on Saturday mirrored the Arabs unified stance in the face of the continued Israeli atrocities in the occupied lands, Korabi said.

Such a unified stance led to a change in US policies towards the Middle East, he added.

Previous Stories:
  Telephone call between President Mubarak, Yemeni peer   (3/29/2002)
  Egyptian- Yemeni security cooperation   (3/16/2002)
  Mubarak gets a message from Yemeni peer   (1/10/2002)

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