Mubarak, Chirac target is breaking cycle of violence
Egypt-France, Politics, 7/25/2002

The talks, to be held by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his French President Jacques Chirac in Paris late Wednesday, are aimed at preventing more deterioration in the Middle East situation, Egyptian Presidential Political Adviser Osama EL Baz said.

In statements, Baz called on the international community to put pressure on Israel, now that all parties concerned have expressed readiness to act in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions.

Baz highlighted the pivotal pro-Middle East role played by France as part of the European Union.

Mubarak will update Chirac on Egypt's viewpoint with regard to Middle East issues and efforts to return the peace process back to track.

In reply to a question on Israel's repeated attempts to keep France and European countries away from the Middle East crisis, Baz said France and Europe are very close to the region geographically speaking.

Also, the fact that most of Israeli settlers have come from European countries should not be neglected, Baz added.

The volume of Israeli trade with European countries has reached 71 per of its total trade, Baz said.

Asked about the French stance linking the security of European countries to that of Middle Eastern countries, Baz reaffirmed that security of Europe was part and parcel of the Middle East security.

Asked whether Mubarak and Chirac would address the latest Israeli operation in Gaza city, Baz asserted that such an Israeli escalation would come on the agenda of the talks.

Asked about a possible Egyptian French security coordination aiming at helping Palestinians carry on with reforms, Baz stressed that any cooperation in this respect would come as part of the quartet group and concerned parties, namely the Palestinian Authority (PA), Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Asked about the difference between the Jewish lobby in France and that of the United States, Baz expressed belief that French Jews better understood the region than their US Counterparts.

Previous Stories:
  Egyptian- French summit next week   (5/28/2002)
  Mubarak holds phone conversations with Chirac   (4/4/2002)
  Maher, Vedrine discuss situation in Palestinian territories   (4/1/2002)

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