Maher denies Abu Mazin, Sharon meeting in Cairo; Egypt free to act on its land, water
Egypt-Israel, Politics, 5/2/2003

Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Maher yesterday denied the existence of any arrangements to hold a meeting between Palestinian Abu Mazin (new appointed prime minister) and Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Cairo.

He accused Israel of intentionally avoiding peace, noting the need of "collaborating with the US and the forces which support the Road Map in order to siege Israel by peace and to put it in a position in which it will be alone against the strong international desire for reaching a just and comprehensive development.

In statements to press, the Egyptian foreign minister said that "Israel should realize that its efforts to obstruct proceeding forward in the way to peace will not bring it anything, be it peace or security and that Israel should realize that obstructing a settlement is a way which will be conducive to nothing and Israel's friends should clarify this matter to it clearly."

On leaks by the Israeli media regarding Israel's opposition to Egypt's deployment of a monitoring system along the Gulf of Teiran, near Sharm esh Sheikh resort, Maher said that Egypt is free on its lands, and is also free to take on its land and water measures it finds necessary, adding Egypt is acting in the context within international resolutions and law.

He explained that Israel always tries to create problems and deepen them and "we, in Egypt do no bother about these things." Worthy mentioning that Israel had sent a message of protest to Egypt because of allegations of the installation of a monitoring system to supervise the navigation movement in Teiran areas. A matter which is considered by Israel as a violation to the "Camp David" agreements, and because of that, Israel sent an official complaint to the Egyptian authorities in which it said that this action is considered a violation to Camp David agreement on navigation in this area.

The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot said that the Egyptian foreign ministry replied officially to Israel, noting that the installed instrument was placed in Egyptian territorial waters and it is not harmful navigation in the area. The Israeli foreign ministry refused to comment on that matter.

The issue of navigation at Teirab areas and the Suez Canal is considered a sensitive issue and one of the reasons behind the eruption of the 6-day war in 1967 between the Arabs and Israel, a decision taken by the Egyptian President Jamal Abdul Naser to close Teiran.'s areas to Israeli ships.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt's borders are red lines, our armed forces capable of deterring any aggressor   (3/12/2003)
  Bassiouni dismisses Israel's alleged annexation of border area   (3/10/2003)
  Yediot Ahronot: Israel makes territorial claims on disputed sea area with Egypt   (3/8/2003)

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