Meguid hands documents showing U.S. support to Arab position on Jerusalem
Regional-Palestine-Spain, Politics, 6/29/1998

Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdul Meguid delivered Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar two official documents dating back three decades that determine the US position toward Jerusalem.

In a joint press conference, Abdul Meguid said after concluding the discussions, "I delivered Aznar two copies of the important document concerned with Jerusalem." The first document is concerned with the statement of then-US ambassador to the United Nations Arthur Goldberg before the UN General Assembly on July 14, 1967, and the second is the statement of then-US ambassador to the U.N. Charles Yost before the Security Council on July 1, 1969.

Abdul Meguid added, "The two documents are considered the basis of the American position on Jerusalem," adding that they support Arab rights in the city, pointing out that these documents were attached to the Camp David treaty. He also described the documents as having an essential effect on the subject of Jerusalem.

Concerning the Arab League's position toward Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu's suggestion of holding a so-called "Madrid 2", an international conference on the peace process, Abdul Meguid said, "Netanyahu's idea is not specific and requires more details. We are today dealing with the American initiative that we wish to be officially presented, we have an Egyptian - French initiative which is clear and its goal is saving the process." He said that if the two initiatives are activated, "things will move toward what we all seek which is saving the peace process."

Abdul Meguid said, "Spain has an important role in the process," as it has hosted the Barcelona and Madrid conferences in 1995. Spain has its ambassador greatly involved in the peace process -- European Union envoy Miguel Moritanos -- and is one of the first European state which supported the Palestinian government, and has major enterprises in Gaza and understands Arab issues as well as the situation in the Middle East.

Aznar described his discussion with Abdul Meguid as being very honest and frank, adding that it focused on the developments in the Middle East peace process and Arab - Spanish relations.

He said that the basis of every negotiation in the future is the respect for United Nations resolutions related to the peace process and the Oslo accords as well as the Madrid peace conference, and the respect the sovereignty of all the area's countries and the Palestinian people's legitimate rights.

Previous Stories:
  The United States' position on Jerulsalem as stated by its ambassador   (6/29/1998)
  Jerusalem question comes to the forefront at the UN   (6/29/1998)

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