Maher: Egypt has US assurances sticking to roadmap
Egypt-USA, Politics, 5/31/2003

Egypt has assurances that the US will stick to the roadmap peace plan, said Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher Thursday.

Following a meeting with the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, William Burns, Maher said the US had promised to work practically to start implementing the plan.

Maher said his talks with Burns came to prepare for the visits by US President George Bush to the region, including the Sharm el-Sheikh summit.

He asserted Egyptian and Arab hopes that the summit would help establish real peace, urging the Palestinians and Israelis to adopt parallel measures and to stick to their commitment.

The Foreign Minister added that he had exchanged views and visions, which are to be discussed in the forthcoming summit, on issues that can lead to real practical outcome to help resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, stressing that the Arabs and the Egyptians hope that the summit would be a success in a way that leads to a real and just peace in the region.

We are looking forward to seeing the roadmap put into action, which makes it indispensable for both parties to adopt parallel steps and act simultaneously in such a way that to reflect their ultimate mutual commitment," Maher was quoted as saying.

He urged the Palestinians and the Israelis not to take any unilateral action and steps that may hinder the implementation of the peace formula that guarantees establishment of the independent Palestinian state, which is expected to be autonomous with no areas or "settlements" under Israeli control.

In reply to a question whether the issue of "terrorism' would be included in the summit agenda, Maher said that a wide range of issues will be reviewed. He added that we, "the Arabs should not give others the chance to take the initiative concerning this issue as if it were their only preoccupation.

On the need for a unified Arab stance in confronting the present challenges, Maher assured that there should be a unified Arab stance on the one hand, and an Arab-American stance on the other, that together would help achieve peace and stability in the Middle East while at the same time fulfilling both the Arab and the American visions of a just and comprehensive peace.

Regarding concerns that the invitation of Abu Mazen to the US-Arab summit would sideline Yasser Arafat's role, Maher said that Abu Mazen's participation was approved by Arafat.

"There is no need to talk about this issue as Egypt has clear stand in this regard, Maher told reporters.

Maher said that the roadmap includes Syria-Israel and Lebanon-Israel peace tracks with the aim of resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict through just and comprehensive settlement.

"If the focus is on a certain track at this stage, it does not mean that the other tracks have not been proposed, he told reporters.

Maher emphasized the need for making the best use of US President George Bush's visit to the region and holding the US-Arab summit on Egyptian soil as result of peace efforts and international collective efforts.

Maher expressed hope that the Sharm el-Sheikh summit would issue a clear statement that it is time to implement the roadmap in good faith and in balanced way so that peace and stability can be achieved.

Maher stressed that the present opportunity for regional peace must be taken now.

We need Israel's full commitment in this respect, he said, adding that he hoped that the Sharm el-Sheikh and Aqaba summits would urge Israel to carry out its obligations," he said.

The US President will meet President Mubarak and other Arab leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh before flying across the Red Sea to Aqaba, Jordan for a summit with Palestinian Premier Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Sharon, hosted by King Abdullah II.

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