President Mubarak warns, in an interview to PBS, of losing current chance to solve Palestinian issue
Egypt-Regional, Politics, 1/14/2005

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak warned of losing the current chance available to solve the Palestinian issue, adding the loss of such opportunity would be a great disaster.

In an interview to PBS's Charlie Rose, Mubarak said he believes the United States knows what it has to do for the Palestinians and their problem, noting if the United States worked seriously to settle the Palestinians' problem we would go as far as we could go. He added that the Palestinians have been suffering for 50 years, asserting the United States is working on achieving stability.

(Excerpts):

Rose: Mr. President, Thank you for allowing us to come to Cairo and talk to you about some important questions and issues. Let me begin by asking you, how is your health?

Mubarak: Very good. I had a small operation in June. As soon as they made the operation, one week, I came, one week after the operation, started working.

Rose: Will you run for reelection?

Mubarak: This is too early to tell you about that.

Rose: Haven't decided? Mubarak: I haven't decided, yet. We have a long time for that. Rose: When will you decide? In May?

Mubarak: May be May. May be after May. It's not an easy job, to make a quick decision. It's not an easy job, especially here.

Rose: This is an important time in the Middle East. Palestinians and Israelis have an opportunity. You have had some nice things to say about Prime Minister Sharon. You said that he is the best hope for the Palestinians. Why have you decided that? What convinced you that Sharon was the best hope?

Mubarak: It's not a matter for to say publicly. I have my assessment on the man in dealing with him for quite a long time. I knew him since he was the minister of defence during late Menachem Begin and Sadat. And I remember when they were in the United States to conclude the agreement, there was a problem between Sadat and Menachem Begin about the settlements near the borders, and our territory.

Menachem Begin phoned Sharon in the presence of Sadat, told him we have a problem of the settlement, and he said look Mr. Prime Minister, it's easy to remove it. And he removed it.

Since that time, when I met him in March after he took office, I found he's a very strong man. I have experience with Netanyahu. Concerning the Palestinian issue, concerning our relations with Barak, Shimon Peres, with Rabin, Rabin was very strong man. Sharon is a very strong man. He is capable to make peace if there is a way. And I think after the talks I made with him several times, and the contacts I am making now and then, I feel that he is ready for peace.

Rose: Do you feel that there is, among, say, the defence minister who has also said that Israelis are prepared to make peace. He said in an interesting conversation that the moment that the Palestinians can take responsibility over certain areas I am willing to give them the responsibility. It could be Gaza; it could be areas of the West Bank, population centers like Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, and Hebron. Is the vision that the Israelis have the same vision that you have for the Palestinians?

Mubarak: At this stage it's the same. It's nearly the same. I cannot predict exactly what is it, but in general terms, I think it's the same.

Rose: Palestinian homeland side by side with Israel? Mubarak: This is what George Bush said. Should two independent states, democratic states live side by side with each other in the same area?

Rose: Yasser Arafat was an historic figure, yet Palestinians today seem more optimistic for peace than they have in a long time. What is that?

Mubarak: Have you gathered the opinions of all Palestinians? Let us be realistic. Now there's a new leader. They had hoped with the new leader that the Israelis could respond with needs, and there are factions in the Palestinian arena who still are hesitant about the situation. But, to maintain peace, and to give hope to the people, there are two tracks.

First, they should sit at the negotiating table. At the same time, there should be economic support to the Palestinian people. If these two tracks are not working together, it would not lead to very good results. The people are suffering. When the people are optimistic of the new administration, they change; they look for their own living. That's all.

If you help them economically, and the United States helps them, the Europeans help them, the rich Arabs helps them, at the same time, with sitting at the negotiating table, I think this is the only wire that everything should settle down and peace process could move forward.

But don't expect that violence will stop overnight. You can not press a button, no violence, no explosions. It will take sometime. I could remind you when Rabin was trying in an agreement with the Palestinians, the 4th of May 1990, if I remember: when he signed, I told him take care, Rabin.

Mubarak: There are elements that my not want this to prevail, so explosions could take place every now and then and violence could take place now and then, so don't get upset, but you have to continue. You know what Rabin said? An explosion took place right away, 10 days after what happened. He said publicly, I'm going to fight terrorism. At the same time, I'm going to continue the peace process.

Rose: So your message to the Israelis that, clearly, there may be acts of violence?

Mubarak: Maybe, at the same time, while speaking with the Palestinians also. I'm not just sending a message only to the Israelis. I'm asking Palestinians-Have to slow down. Give a chance for peace to move forward. That's why two tracks should take place. Sitting at the negotiating table is a good signal for the Palestinians. Supporting them economically is very important for the negotiations to continue.

Previous Stories:
  al-Riyadh: Baz calls for creation of Arab mechanism to solve inter-Arab problems   (1/10/2005)
  Egypt committed to rotating UNSC seats for Africa   (1/6/2005)
  Abu Zeid denies water war in Nile Basin   (1/3/2005)

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

Search