Mubarak, Arafat discuss future of ME peace after Israeli elections
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 5/24/1999

Foreign Minister Amr Moussa yesterday said President Hosni Mubarak's talks with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat focused on the status of the Middle East peace process and the results of the recent Israeli elections.

"We must wait for the formation of the Israeli government but the peace process must be revived with clear measures on the ground," he said. He added that peace can be revived by implementing the Wye River agreement and halting the contraction of Jewish settlements. "We expect the new Prime Minister in Israel to make a new start and seek to resume negotiation on the different tracks" an official Egyptian statement reported him as saying.

Regarding the possibility of holding a meeting between President Mubarak and Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak, Moussa said it was too early to speculate about such a meeting.

"It is possible of course but we must wait until the new premier assumes full power," he said, adding that no decision has so far been taken on this issue. Speaking to reporters after the talks, President Yasser Arafat praised the tremendous efforts exerted by Egypt and President Hosni Mubarak to promote the peace process.

Arafat said his negotiations with President Mubarak focused on the developments in the peace process in light of the recent developments in the region. He affirmed that the situation would be clearer after the formation of the new Israeli government in Tel Aviv.

Meanwhile, Presidential Political Adviser Osama El-Baz said the policy of the Israeli government could only be judged by the programs it would design to implement the agreements to which Israel had committed itself.

"It is also important to wait for the formation of the new government to see if it includes advocates or enemies of peace," he said, adding that it is too early to judge the new government.

El-Baz said Barak has a great opportunity to evolve new policies and push forward the peace process and embark on the final status talks.

Previous Stories:
  Arafat in Cairo on Saturday   (5/20/1999)
  Moussa, Qaddoumi discuss peace process developments   (5/18/1999)
  Moussa attacks closure of Palestinian Orient House   (4/26/1999)

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