Maher meets Canadian Foreign Minister
Egypt-Canada, Politics, 5/27/2002

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher held a meeting yesterday with his Canadian counterpart Bill Graham at the foreign ministry during which they reviewed current issues.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher described, as good, his meeting with Canadian counterpart Bill Graham.

The Canadian Minister was interested in visiting Egypt and listening to President Hosni Mubarak on the Egyptian vision of the present situation in the Middle East, he added.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Graham at the conclusion of their talks, Maher said the Canadian top diplomat came to the region to explore the situation and listen to assessments of all parties concerned.

Talks reaffirmed a common desire by both Egypt and Canada to reach a peace settlement, he said.

On the American -Israeli vision that sees a need for reforming the Palestinian authority, Maher said this decision was only up to the Palestinians themselves to take. Most of the time the Israelis press for changes as a pretext to dodge serious negotiations, he added.

The Palestinians have learnt a lesson during the past months and devised a reform plan under President Yasser Arafat because they recognize the need for such a move, and not because the Israelis did impose it on them, Maher stressed.

Any attempt to imposed changes from outside is absolutely unacceptable, said the foreign minister.

Graham agreed with Maher that peoples choose their governments and institutions.

He vocalized Canada's readiness to join hands in international peacekeeping forces in the Palestinian lands.

I do not think that any one would approve sending international forces without the approval of all parties concerned, he added.

On the continuation of martyrdom operations in the occupied Palestinian lands and Canada's position in view of mounting Israeli threats to unleash a wide-scale military offensive on Gaza, Graham said "suicide operations are unacceptable from the humanitarian point of view and do not serve the interests of the Palestinian people."

Canada supports UN Security Council resolution 1402 that stipulates an Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian lands, said the Canadian Foreign Minister.

Whether the G8 summit, to be hosted by Canada later next month, would address the Middle East problem, Graham said his country backs US Secretary of State Colin Powell's ideas.

He asserted that Canada plays a role in the issue of the Palestinian refugees. The G8 foreign ministers would hold a meeting to look into the possibility of playing a specific role, he added.

Previous Stories:
  Canadian FM: we look forward to Egypt's significant role in the peace process   (5/25/2002)
  Mubarak receives message from Canadian Prime Minister   (5/25/2002)
  Canada backs Egypt's peace efforts   (5/7/2001)

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