Mubarak: Olmert is a man of vision and credibility
Egypt-Israel, Politics, 6/5/2006

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert held tete-a-tete meeting yesterday following which they were joined by their delegations.

The meeting discussed latest developments in the Palestinian territories and international assistance to the Palestinians.

They also tackled the issue of Palestinian taxes and customs revenues withheld by the Israeli Authorities.

President Mubarak and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud last night Olmert said they agreed during their talks in Sharm El Sheikh that negotiations were "the best way for establishing peace in the region.

Addressing a press conference he held with Olmert following their talks President Mubarak said that peace is the key to maintaining security, stability and prosperity of the region. He said his meeting with Olmert would open a new window of hope.

At the beginning of the press conference Mubarak welcomed Olmert as a man of "vision and credibility." He added that Olmert's first visit to Egypt as Prime Minister was "an important chance for establishing peace in the Middle East."

Mubarak said his relations with Olmert go back long years when he worked as assistant to former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Seizing the opportunity, the president wished ailing Sharon speedy recovery. "We had worked together to give a push to the peace process in the Middle East," he recalled, hoping to pursue the same drive with Olmert.

He said talks with Olmert dwelt on the peace process and bilateral ties, praising them as "fruitful."

The Israeli Premier regretted last week's incident in which two Egyptian policemen were killed. A joint investigation committee was set up to probe the incident, Olmert said, adding the findings of the inquiry would be scrutinized.

He said he ordered that his security and intelligence agencies to cooperate in this effort and do their best to avert the recurrence of such incidents in the future.

Olmert added that talks with Mubarak took up a number of key issues, including means to make progress in talks with the Palestinian Authority.

Olmert termed his country's ties with Egypt as vital and important. Recalling that he attended the signing of the Qualifying Industrial Zone (QIZ) agreement as a trade minister, Olmert said he directed the current trade minister to further expandthe agreement.

The Israeli prime minister thanked President Mubarak for inviting him to Egypt and hoped that dialogue and coordination between Egypt and Israel would continue. Speaking of the roadmap peace plan, Olmert said Israel was committed to the internationally- backed blueprint.

He announced an intention to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to push ahead with peace talks.

Olmert said he also discussed with President Mubarak the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories.

He added that his government would exert its best efforts to stave off a humanitarian crisis. Olmert said his government has allocated NIS 50 million in medical assistance for the Palestinians.

The Israeli premier lauded the Egyptian food and medicine aid for the Palestinians, adding he gave orders to facilitate the aid entry into the Palestinians territories.

Mubarak said he discussed with Olmert last week's border, shooting which claimed the lives of the two Egyptian policemen.

"He told me they formed a joint committee to investigate the incident and how to prevent its recurrence." Olmert, for his part, regretted the shooting and hoped the committee would unravel the details.

He added that the committee would also study means to avoid the recurrence of such incidents.

"We, Egypt and Israel, look forward to secure and calm borders," said Olmert.

On Egypt's stance regarding Hamas's refusal of the Palestinian prisoners' initiative, Mubarak refused to go into details about the proposed referendum on the issue.

"I just urge Fatah and Hamas to resolve their differences to be ready for peace talks," he noted.

Olmert dodged a question on whether President Mubarak supported his plan to set Israel's border unilaterally should peace talks with the Palestinian fail.

He said President Mubarak asserted that the preference should be given to negotiations so as to realize peace in the region.

Commenting, President Mubarak said present efforts should focus on getting the parties back to the negotiating table.

On the Arab peace initiative, Mubarak said the core of the proposal was the readiness of Arabs to set up ties with Israel in case of a comprehensive and permanent peace was achieved.

Olmert, for his part, was ready to resume talks based on the roadmap plan.

Asked whether Egypt would press the Hamas-led government, President Mubarak said neither peoples nor governments would accept pressure at this time. He cautioned that pressures could backfire.

Previous Stories:
  Israeli soldiers kill two Egyptian policemen   (6/3/2006)
  Mubarak to meet Olmert, and Abbas   (6/2/2006)
  Mubarak- Olmert talks Sunday   (5/29/2006)

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