Mubarak and Blair warns of danger
Egypt-UK, Politics, 4/18/1998

British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned of the great dangers should the peace process not return to its normal track.

Blair is visiting the region as head of the European Union because the EU wishes to play a greater role in the efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East, but Blair emphasized that the Europeans do not want to interfere with the US role towards the peace process.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak shared Blair's opinion, stating that an independent initiative from the European Union will not lead to enhancing the peace process. "The EU role is very important" adding that the EU "should complete the American role," he said.

Mubarak said, "The way to regain trust is by implementing what was agreed upon by the Israeli side whether from the current government or from the previous one."

Blair, who will head today to Saudi Arabia, faced during his talks with Mubarak complaints denoting that Britain is sheltering Islamists involved in terrorist activities, but Blair said, "We will do everything that we can to work with Egypt in order to make sure that there are no terrorist activities that are in any way being assisted from Britain, and indeed you will probably know that there are laws that are being brought forward in Britain over this next period of time which will make it an offense to conspire to commit terrorist acts against foreign countries from Britain."

Blair noted "bilateral relations between Britain and Egypt which are very strong and I believe will get stronger still and I have been absolutely delighted to enjoy both the time to talk with him about some of the political issues and also to exchange our views about the situation in the world in general."

Concerning the peace agreement in Ireland it may effect the peace process in the Middle East, Blair said, "Different situations necessitate different solutions," adding, "one thing that we have learned in trying to deal with the situation in Northern Ireland is that these situations either move forward or they move backwards, they never stay static, at least until they are resolved."

Mubarak said" the peace agreement in Ireland has taken place because of the people's will and we hope that leaders will walk in the same direction."

"I think that that frustration is shared everywhere at the lack of progress that has been made," he said, "I hope very much over these next few days, and obviously in particular when I am in Israel, that we can try and make progress because that is the only thing that is going to offer any sort of comfort to people in the region."

Previous Stories:
  Blair asked not to hand over Egyptian extremists   (4/15/1998)
  Egypt - Britain   (4/14/1998)
  British parliamentary delegation discusses Egyptian peace process role   (4/13/1998)

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