On the mini Arab summit
Egypt-Regional, Politics, 5/26/1999

Egyptian Information Minister Safwat al-Sharif has said that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak expressed his welcome for convening a mini-Arab summit, but Mubarak did not clarify whether this summit should be tripartite or include five participating sides.

In a statement to Palestinian radio in Gaza on Tuesday, al-Sharif added that Mubarak told journalists on the plane which took him to Libya on Monday that such a summit should be proceeded by a meeting of foreign ministers in order to prepare topics that are to be discussed at the summit.

Al-Sharif continued that the Egyptian president welcomed consultations among the Arab leaders in order to take a united position concerning recent developments and changes, especially regarding matters pertaining to the Middle East peace process.

On the possibility of Egypt's normalization of relations with Israel after the Israeli Labor party assumes power, the Egyptian minister said that normalization of relations with Israel is linked to the extent of progress which will be attained in the peace process and the making of an Israeli serious move on all the three Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian tracks.

He stressed that the rights of the Palestinian people and their cause is the corner stone for just and comprehensive peace.

Meanwhile, Nabil Shaath, minister of planning for the Palestinian government, said that advocating such a mini-Arab summit was first made during the visit of Arafat and members of the accompanying delegation to Cairo on Sunday. He added in a statement to the Israeli army radio in Gaza "we have proposed the idea of a five member state meeting bordering Israel in order to withstand the coming phase, and not to permit Israel to single out each Arab country separately." He continued that resident Mubarak was the one who promoted the idea of an Arab summit including Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and Egypt.

Previous Stories:
  Egyptian - Israeli meeting in Sharm El-Sheik soon   (5/24/1999)
  Egyptian - Israeli meeting in Sharm El-Sheik soon   (5/24/1999)
  Mubarak, Arafat discuss future of ME peace after Israeli elections   (5/24/1999)
  Mubarak and Clinton discuss Mideast peace   (5/19/1999)

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