Egyptian concern over Washington's policy in Palestine, Iraq; Mubarak welcomes Sharon's plan, criticizes Sharon's guarantees
Egypt-USA, Politics, 4/26/2004

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak who addressed an " urgent message" to the US President George W. Bush over the threats made by the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon to liquidate the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat expressed the demolishing of the Egyptian confidence in Washington's policy towards Palestine. This was expressed in a speech he had delivered on the occasion of Sinai liberation anniversary.

In his televised speech, Mubarak extended a direct invitation to the UN and the European Union in order to work for a political settlement in the region, noting not to the US. Mubarak said "In my assessment the international community today, especially the European Union should, in collaboration with the Quartet draw clear timely schedules for the two sides to implement their reciprocated obligations in each of the three phases of the roadmap, in a gradual and balanced way so as to establish the Palestinian state."

Mubarak considered that the success of any Israeli withdrawal from the occupied lands " will be always linked closely and to direct negotiations with the Palestinian authority " noting to the separation plan proposed by the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon. He added "the withdrawal in itself is a step we welcome, especially since it falls in the course of implementing the first phase of the roadmap.. but what is controversial is the related guarantees linking to the final solution matters," thereby criticizing the written American guarantees to Israel especially in regard to borders and the refugees.

On Iraq, Mubarak said that sisterly Iraq has been exposed to an unprecedented catastrophe in its history as a result of the occupation of its lands without any legal legislation and the inability of the occupation forces to ensure security and stability for the Iraqi people and its discrepancy from the racial, ethnic and territorial integrity of the Iraqis. Mubarak called for actual transfer of authority to the Iraqi people by the end of June and the need to ensure security and preserving Arab identity for the Iraqi people in a society where ethnic and sectarian diversity should be taken into account." Mubarak also stressed Egypt's "national and Arab cling to liberating the occupied Arab territories since 1967 in Palestine and the Golan and other occupied parts left in South Lebanon as well as returning back the legitimate rights of the Palestinians especially the right to establishing their own independent state."

Previous Stories:
  Bush, Mubarak Discuss Reform, Peace Process, Terrorism   (4/13/2004)
  Mubarak embarks today on his visit to U.S. and Europe   (4/8/2004)
  Sharif and Qabshi on the Greater criticize the Greater ME initiative   (4/7/2004)

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

Search