Fruitful cooperation between Mubarak and Arafat over Mideast peace, Arab summit
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 6/16/1999

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has denied any agreement with Israel over the issue of Jerusalem. In press statements he made on Monday in Cairo, Arafat said, "Jerusalem is our capital, and the one who does not like this can go and drink water from the Gaza Sea."

On Tuesday morning Arafat arrived in Cairo and held a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak dealing with the issue of convening the Arab summit. The Palestinian president described Arab reactions to this end as "so far positive." He added that he held "fruitful talks" with President Mubarak concerning the Middle East peace process.

On Monday night Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak made a telephone call to President Mubarak. Israel Radio said that talks dealt with the Middle East peace process and the need to resume it.

On Tuesday morning Arafat and Mubarak had a telephone conversation with Israeli President Ezer Weizman on the occasion of his 75th birthday, during which they stressed Weizman's role in backing the Middle East peace process and revitalizing the peace process on various tracks.

Following the meeting between Mubarak and Arafat, Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said that viewpoints were exchanged in light of the two leaders' expectations of the new Israeli government." He indicated that several matters depend on the program of the new Israeli government and the way it will deal with Middle East peace.

On Monday Moussa reviewed with Arafat at the headquarters of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry latest developments on the Arab arena and the peace developments in light of the current stalemate.

Following his meeting with Moussa, Arafat said he backs the convening of an Arab summit very soon. He stressed the Arab states are in need of such a summit in "order to withstand common challenges on all levels."

Arafat said, "The Palestinians are committed to a just and comprehensive solution on the three Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian tracks." He added, "There is no dispute with Syria. We consider our Syrian brothers as partners in everything." He continued, "I have met with President al-Assad several times, and I will meet with him shortly, if God almighty wills."

Previous Stories:
  Egyptian banks finance large milling company   (6/14/1999)
  Arafat meets Moussa for pushing forward the peace process   (6/14/1999)
  U.S ambassador: Increasing Egyptian exports in cooperation with the Palestinian side   (6/9/1999)

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