Egypt's efforts for realizing peace in ME never ceased
Egypt-USA, Politics, 6/8/2002

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak confirmed that Egypt will not stop efforts aiming at achieving peace in the Middle East because peace is vital for Egypt and the peoples of the region.

Minister of Information Safwat El-Sherif said that President Mubarak had confirmed during a meeting with representatives of the American Jewish Organizations that Egypt had made wide and successful steps after it had started the peace process with Israel but the situation has been complicated after the incumbent government took power in Israel.

"President Mubarak entrusted the representatives of the Jewish organizations with informing the Israeli government of the importance of showing flexibility, understanding and cooperation, as well as providing new chances before peace efforts," said Sherif.

"The President said that achieving peace starts by restoring confidence, halting the military operations, breaking the cycle of violence and resuming peace negotiations," added Sherif.

The Minister of Information said that President Mubarak had pointed out that blaming Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for any retaliatory operation without giving the Palestinian Authority a chance to move on the ground would complicate the issue.

It was wrong to blame the Palestinian leader for any operation alone, Sherif quoted Mubarak as saying. He said that President Mubarak pointed out that there is a real desire, by the Palestinian people and their authority, to rehabilitate and reform the structure of the Palestinian Authority, but Israel must give a chance to the Palestinians to do that.

The President stressed the importance of showing flexibility by the two sides because linking the resumption of negotiations to a complete halt of violence would make peace impossible, Sherif quoted-the President as saying.

On concessions, President Mubarak said that Arafat has no thing to offer for a concession, adding that violence will not stop unless serious steps are taken to prepare the way before the return of rights and reaching a solution to the problem.

The President said that we must not succumb to the desire of anti-peace elements, pointing out" that late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin had insisted on pursuing the peace process despite the acts of violence.

The minister said that President Mubarak had stressed the importance of working for peace whatever the obstacles and difficulties would be to achieve the interests of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples and the peoples of the region.

Establishing the just and comprehensive peace is the only way to achieve stability and halt violence, Sherif quoted the president as saying.

President Mubarak said that every word issued by Chairman Arafat is known by Israel, pointing out that it s illogical to hold Arafat responsible for any attack because he has no tools necessary for halting violence.

The Minister of Information said that President Mubarak had pointed out that all parties, either the United States or the Arab states, must seek taking serious steps through a vision to be discussed with President Bush then such vision will be imposed on all parties concerned as long as it was logical and based on the international legitimacy. Violence opens the way for counter violence, the Minister of Information quoted President Mubarak as saying.

On the call by the Jewish organizations to President Mubarak to visit Israel, the President said that the current Israeli government is not ready to respond to the proposals aimed at achieving stability, halting military operations and resuming peace talks.

The President wondered how can he visit Israel at a time when the Palestinians are bleeding as a result of the Israeli incursions into the Palestinian territories.

On attacking Semitism, the President said that Egypt is against attacking Semitism, adding that the Egyptians are Semitic.

He pointed out that all Egyptians are against attacking religions, either Islam, Christianity or Judaism, pointing out that slandering Islam by some writers opens the way for the others to respond.

Asked if he is optimistic or pessimistic over reaching a solution to the problem, the President said that he is usually optimistic.

The President met during his visit to the United States with a number of US officials including Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice.

Previous Stories:
  US administration welcomes Mubarak's visit to Washington   (6/1/2002)
  Mubarak discusses with Burns US proposals on final settlement between Palestinians and Israel   (6/1/2002)
  Egypt's ambassador to US stresses importance of Mubarak's Washington visit   (5/31/2002)

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