Mubarak-Gaddafi meeting mirrors aspirations of their peoples
Egypt-Libya, Politics, 4/29/2002

Presidents Hosni Mubarak and Muammer al-Gaddafi had talks in Tripoli yesterday during which they emphasized the importance of the international community's role and world public opinion in besieging Israel and saving international peace and security.

The two leaders warned against sidestepping terms of reference of the peace process, which is based on the principle of land for peace.

They also underlined the importance of adopting integrated Arab policies and a joint language which is based on wisdom, logic and adopting a clear cut Arab stance towards, a just, comprehensive and balanced peace.

Following talks, Minister of Information Safwat A1 Sherif said Presidents Mubarak and Gaddafi followed up progressing stance of European and Asian countries in uncovering what is taking place in the Palestinian territories as "this is a state terrorism against the Palestinian people." He said the two leaders held an expanded meeting following their meeting, during which they discussed ways of rallying support for the Palestinian people to restore their rights.

They underlined the need for abiding by the Arab summit resolutions which are based on international legitimacy.

The two leaders further discussed Arab moves on the international arena in order to secure Israeli withdrawal from lands and lifting off the siege clamped on Leader Yasser Arafat and Nativity church.

The Minister of Information said on the sidelines of the two leaders meetings, the ministers escorting President Mubarak had talks with their Libyan counterparts on various topics of common interest to both countries.

The Minister of Information said that on the sidelines of the two leaders exchanged views on expanding vistas of cooperation in the field of commerce and petroleum.

Al Sherif said President Mubarak and Gaddafi discussed bilateral relations and the progress of activity by the joint higher Egyptian Libyan committee. The two leaders also reviewed the agenda of the next meeting be held in Cairo on May 7 under the chairmanship of the two countries prime ministers.

He said the higher committee was assigned to discuss Egyptian, Libyan and Sudanese cooperation in developing the region between southern Egypt and northern the Sudan.

Meantime, Egyptian ambassador to Libya Hani Khallaf said that meetings between Mubarak and Gaddafi are, in themselves, a basic mechanism in charting the direction and course of relations between Egypt and Libya and a private mover in pushing forward and developing, deepening these relations.

The meetings also provide more chances to coordinate the stances and regional and international policies of the two countries.

Ambassador Hani Khallaf, in statements to Middle East News Agency (MENA) Sunday, said that the meeting Sunday between President Mubarak and Gaddafi comes at a stage in which the two states prepare to hold the 8th session of the higher joint Egyptian-Libyan committee.

Some of the work of this committee needs directives from the higher political leadership in view of the ambitious projects and programs which conform with the aspirations of the peoples of the two states in economic and technical cooperation and increasing the volume of trade and investments and political, cultural and social cooperation.

The ambassador pointed out that the meeting of President Mubarak and Gaddafi takes place against the backdrop of unusual circumstances being witnessed by the Palestinian issue at the present stage and the grave consequences of Israel's practices in the West Bank and in the Arab political street and on the peace process in the entire Middle East area.

This makes it necessary that Arab leaders make a common and accurate review of developments and conduct an actual analysis and, at the same time, strive to orient reactions and regulate movement in a manner which serves the strategic goals of the Arab nation.

The Ambassador said that the Mubarak-Gaddafi meeting acquires an added importance in view of the fact that the African continent is about to open a new page in the organization of the continent as authorities will be transferred from the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to the new African Union.

The ambassador said that Egypt and Libya are expected to play an important role in molding the course of this new entity and in arranging internal and outside relations.

The two states will participate in this role on the basis of a long history of political and economic interaction in pushing forward Africa and also in view of the existence of wide and varied networks of communications, organizations and cooperation and technical assistance given to several African countries.

"The process of national conciliation in Sudan is expected to witness important developments on the basis of the principles of the Egyptian-Libyan initiative and meetings of coordination with the IGAD initiative," the ambassador said.

Activities of the Egyptian-Libyan summit opened at noon yesterday at the Libyan leadership headquarters in Tripoli where the two leaders held a meeting followed by a meeting at the level of delegations.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak receives phone call from Gaddafi   (4/4/2002)
  Message from Gaddafi to Mubarak   (3/25/2002)
  Mubarak gets a message from al-Qaddafi   (2/18/2002)

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