President Mubarak: European role should be a complement to US role
Egypt-Syria, Politics, 4/16/1998

President Mubarak and President al-Assad replied to questions from reporters at a joint press conference after their meeting, we bring you some more Q and A:

Q: Damascus and Cairo witnessed a series of inter-Arab meetings culminating in today's summit. Is there a possibility of holding a mini or plenary Arab summit with a view to confronting challenges threatening the region?

President Hafez al-Assad: We are working to improve our circumstances to the maximum possible and are discussing this issue, President Mubarak and I, along with brothers who are helping us. These matters need long discussions and continuous debate so as to reach the truth and for the better. I believe we are satisfied with what has been accomplished. I do not want to say we have reached what we must do but we must have a clear vision and strong determination in order to reach the suitable image. There are suspended maters which need further time and an exchange of viewpoints. Eventually, there are no disagreements in their full sense.

Q: How does President Mubarak see the Israeli decision or idea on Lebanon and the impact of this on Arab agreement and Syrian Lebanese harmony?

President Mubarak: In fact President al-Assad had answered this question on Lebanon more than once, and when he was asked in Alexandria summit about "Lebanon first." If Israel wants to withdraw unconditionally from South Lebanon in accordance with the Resolution 425, no one will reject this. But if it sets negotiations as a precondition to withdraw neither Syria nor Lebanon will agree on this.

Q: What is the two Presidents' comment on Israel's linkage of withdrawal from the West Bank to the detention of the leaders of the Islamic movement?

President Mubarak: We should not link the peace process to the issue of arresting the Islamic movements' leaders if they are not harmful.

President al-Assad: Israel should pull back from the Palestinian lands, and that is the basis. As to the internal issues and the issue of "Islamists," some say this is an internal issue between them and Israel and needs more discussions.

Q: The Turkish Israeli alliance is continuous in several fields, most dangerous are the military and intelligence fields; how do the Arab countries in your opinion face this continuous danger on the Arab nation?

President Mubarak: We talked with the Turkish foreign minister when he recently visited us. And we say that if there is any danger on the Arab nation we will have our say in this topic.

Q: As for the European role and in anticipation of the meeting between President Mubarak and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, how do you see the European role will be more effective?

President Mubarak: I believe the European role began now to be active. God willing, we will talk on this topic with Blair. The European role must show an outstanding attitude towards this cause, because peace in this region is closely linked to Europe. So, it must play a role in establishing peace, a role which is helpful to the American role. I mean it must not be separate from the American role. It is complementary.

On recent contacts for convening an Arab summit, President al-Assad said: Concerning the Arab coordination, the Arabs do not object to the summit, but there are continued consultations in order to discuss whether current conditions are fit to hold a summit or not.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian delegation delivers communique to Mubarak   (2/18/1998)
  Syrian-Egyptian summit convenes in Damascus   (1/15/1998)

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

Search