Egyptian FM: All the world admits the right of the Palestinians for a state
Egypt-Regional, Politics, 4/16/1999

In statements to reporters in Stuttgart on Thursday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said the deadlocked Middle East peace process cannot control the "Barcelona process."

He added that the whole world sees the right of the Palestinians to establish their own independent state.

Moussa said the paper submitted by the German presidency of the European Union on the main lines for the draft project of the code of security and stability "constitutes a project upon which we can embark" and amend. "It is not a merely European paper, because it includes amendments made by Algeria and Egypt," he said.

On his expectations concerning the Middle East peace process in light of the approaching Israeli elections, Moussa said, "The Palestinian diplomacy has succeeded in making the whole world, including the US, see the right of the Palestinians to have their own state, except Israel, which is indeed a great victory."

He stressed that the Arab group will call for the return of Libya as a member in the context of Barcelona, "as Libya's participation as a special invitee is not enough, especially when it recognizes the Barcelona framework."

Replying to a question on whether the Arab group will submit a special proposal on theKosovo crisis, Moussa added, "This issue has been greatly deteriorated due to the policy of ethnic cleansing, expulsion of citizens and other great inhuman practices, and the UN had to have tackled with this issue before NATO intervention."

He continued that the Arab position is that "all measures taken to halt ethnic cleansing were correct. I believe there is no possibility for coexistence between the people of Kosovo and the Serbs. There should be a new situation for Kosovo and this matter should be discussed by the international community," adding that, "Egypt supports the initiative of the UN Secretary General in this regard."

Previous Stories:
  Egypt backs Palestinian right to declare state   (4/14/1999)
  Russian foreign minister to visit Cairo next week   (4/7/1999)
  Moussa: Proclaiming Palestinian state was universally supported, date is a tactical issue   (4/5/1999)

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