Maher: Palestinian truce within days; Fischer for European role in Roadmap
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 6/25/2003

The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Maher announced yesterday that he expects a truce agreement to be reached by the Palestinian groups within the few coming days, noting the Egyptian efforts in this regard.

In a statement in Cairo, Maher warned that any truce of this kind by the "Hamas movement" and other groups, will not be viable, unless Israel commits to it. He added that it is impossible to have truce from one side only, at a time when the other party continues its provocative policies.

Maher added that the Egyptian position sees that the success of any effort depends on Israel's taking collaborative positions in line of its commitments concerning the Roadmap to peace. A matter which might contribute to calm down the situation and to proceed towards serious negotiations in order to reach a settlement. He added "we do not see that Israel is on the way to fulfil its obligations." On the other hand, German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joschka Fischer in Cairo called for a role for the European Union in the implementation of the Roadmap in order to find a solution in the Middle East problem. He called on the moderate Arab states, especially Egypt to collaborate with the Quartet.

Following talks he had held with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt in Cairo where he arrived on Monday in the course of his tour on the region, Fischer announced that Europe should play an important role in the implementation and supervision of the Roadmap. Fischer said that the Quartet committee should contribute its efforts with moderate Arab states especially with Egypt, to implement the Roadmap.

Fischer, on the other hand expressed his satisfaction over the key role played by Egypt in the Middle East. He said that everyone should make an effort and violence and terrorism should be stopped ultimately to build confidence and make reforms in the Palestinian Authority in order to establish a democratic Palestinian state with the aim to move toward the next phase of the Roadmap.

Previous Stories:
  Baz calls for swift implementation of Middle East peace plan   (6/23/2003)
  Egypt bids to salvage Mideast peace plan   (6/17/2003)
  Egyptian mediation extracts a silent consent from Hamas on a Truce   (6/17/2003)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search