Moussa calls for peace effort
Egypt-Regional, Politics, 3/17/1998

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa stated that Israeli minister's threats to kill a person, whoever this person may be, is a very serious and dangerous thing that would greatly affect the region.

Israeli Minister of Infrastructure Ariel Sharon recently made remarks that his country still intends to assassinate the head of political bureau of the Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, in Amman even after a failed assassination attempt last year by the Israeli Mossad.

Moussa said there is a defect in the general direction of Israeli policy, confirming that this defect would lead to real terrorism and that it must reexamine the security issue in light of a current Arab move to confront the deteriorating peace process. Moussa stated there must an Arab initiative in avoid a state where there will be neither negotiations nor peace and where everyone will share responsibility toward this.

Concerning the importance of the coming ministerial meeting for the Arab League's council's within the current obstacles of the peace process, Moussa said the coming meeting of Arab foreign ministers comes at a critical period for the peace process.

The Arab ministers are meeting in the Arab league's council to discuss Israeli evasion of the Madrid terms of reference and the land for peace principal.

Concerning Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's call for international forces to protect the Palestinian self-rule regions from Israeli attacks, Moussa said this call came as a result of the bad situation in which the Palestinian people face and live.

Concerning Israeli calls for a new peace conference and refusal of all suggested initiatives, Moussa said that all that is currently needed is for Israel to implement the already signed agreements.

Moussa also welcomed the visit of British Foreign Minister Robin Cook to Egypt, saying that Egypt is pursuing the European attitudes concerning the current peace crisis, expressing Egypt's welcome for what Cook stated about the Israeli settlement and peace.

In a joint news conference with Moussa following his meeting with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt on Monday, Cook said that Britain and Egypt agree on the need to get Israel to implement agreements and pledges reached on all tracks.

Warning against the danger of Israeli persistence in continuing its settlement policy, Cook stressed his country's rejection of such Israeli settlement activities, noting his intention to visit Abu Ghneim settlement despite the Israeli authorities' opposition.

Cook also asserted his country's commitment to pushing the Middle East peace process forward in line with UN Security Council resolutions 242, 338 and 425 and the land for peace formula.

During Cook's meeting with President Mubarak, talks dealt with the stalemated regional peace process and European efforts to salvage it from collapse. Cook submitted European thoughts to push the peace process forward on all tracks.

In an arrival statement in Cairo, Cook said he was determined to go ahead with his visit to Abu Ghneim mount in Arab East Jerusalem. He was reacting to a threat by the Israeli government to exclude the European Union from ME peacemaking if he proceeded with the visit. Speaking to reporters, Cook rejected suggestions that he favored any side in the ME peace process.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak discusses peace process with British FM   (3/16/1998)
  Pakistani prime minister to visit Cairo, Swiss agreement a first   (3/16/1998)
  US secretary of defense to visit Egypt   (3/12/1998)

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