Mubarak, Barak's joint press conference
Regional, Politics, 7/10/1999

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has announced his determination to maintain a progress on the peace process simultaneously on all ME peace tracks, while the Egyptian President Muhammad Hosni Mubarak said that Syria is serious in the ME peace and in resuming talks from the point they stopped at.

In the Joint press conference held following his talks with Barak on Friday in Alexandria, the Egyptian President said that he has "great hopes" in that Barak will achieve a progress towards peace in the ME but he explained that this takes time.

Barak for his side Barak said he is confident that he has the chance to bring in a new impetus to the ME peace that should be invested. He added that the Israeli government has now clear outlines concerning the settlements I adding " we will not build new settlements nor demolish settlements." Barak stressed his determination to look forward in proceeding on the three ME peace tracks.

"Barak used to work with Yitzhak Rabin, and has a "good" notion regarding the peace process, Mubarak said, adding that Egypt will help Barak to solve all his problems, as ``we did with Rabin``. Mubarak expressed wishes for the advancement of the peace process, calling for holding every opportunity available for the sake of materializing peace.

    Mubarak hailed the fact that Barak and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat will shortly meet. "We must work for propelling the peace process," Barak told the press conference.

"I will be meeting with Arafat earlier next week, and later with US President Bill Clinton for the sake of driving forward the peace process, through Mubarak`s support," said Barak.

"Egypt has a unique role in the Middle East peace process," Barak added.

Asked on his expectations regarding the Middle East peace process at the present, President Mubarak said that when he first met former premier Benjamin Netanyahu, he had promised to respect all agreements, a move which led him to accept such promise.

President Mubarak added that if Netanyahu had kept his promise, he would have never criticised him.

President Mubarak, on the other hand, said that he knows well Mr. Barak as he had previously participated in the peace negotiations with late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

"Mr. Barak will go ahead with the peace talks, but we have to give him a chance to assess the situation," Mubarak said.

Speaking about Jewish settlements, Barak said that the new Israeli government has a clear stance on this issue; no new settlements will be established and no existing ones will be dismantled. "The settlements should be subject to negotiations up to the final-status agreements are reached," Barak added.

"The New government is determined to push forward the peace process," Barak said.

On his estimations of the Russian role in the peace process, Barak said he welcomes whoever can contribute to the peace process, noting that Russia had a major role in the peace drive.

However, ``the essence of the problem should be determined through him and Arafat," the Israeli premier added.

"We are also listening to the advice of the leaders concerned with the peace process," Barak said, noting that "Mubarak and the US had shaped the peace process."     On Egypt's role in facilitating the ME peace process, President Mubarak said "Egypt is the country that had opened the door before the peace process in the region."

"Egypt has a role but it never exerts pressure on anyone," according to President Mubarak.

"We are not negotiating on behalf of the Palestinians, but we, however, shall continue helping the peace process," the President added.

On the prospects of resuming multilateral negotiations, President Mubarak called for discussing matters that could help progress the negotiations. "We have to give Mr. Barak a chance before tackling such issues," Mubarak said.

On the plan of the new Israeli government regarding the Mideast peace process, especially the Syrian and Lebanese peace tracks in particular, Barak said he is determined to go ahead with the peace march, adding that he would follow the footsteps of late Yitshak Rabin in order to achieve peace.     However, Barak said that he would never, at the same time, harm Israel`s security, noting that he would remain "a fighter." "We are still determined to realize peace while taking into consideration the interests of the others," he added.

Asked if Barak will carry out the previously signed accords, President Mubarak said that he has "great hopes" to push the peace process forward, noting that there is a golden opportunity that should be seized.

Mubarak said he has not spoken of details with Mr. Barak. "There is no need to speak of the importance of the Palestinian issue since Barak knows well that the Palestinian cause is the core ang crux of the issue," the President added.

President Mubarak said he believes that Barak intends to implement the previously signed accords.

On his assessment of his talks with Barak, President Mubarak hold the presence of Barak in office as an opportunity to realize peace and stability in the region. "We should give him a chance to appraise the situation," the President added. On the Syrian peace talks, stalled since April 1997, Barak said that there are two tracks, namely the Syrian and Lebanese ones, which should be moved forward.

"We have to exert serious efforts to look for ways to give momentum to all tracks, and put an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict," he added.

On the prospects of trade cooperation with the Palestinians, Barak said he will try to weigh the situation to reach some agreements.

Regarding the Syrian-Israeli negotiations, Barak voiced his readiness to negotiate with the Syrians. "We are determined to exert every effort to find a way to realize peace and provide security," Barak said.

On the prospects of meeting with Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad, Barak said he is prepared for negotiating with the Syrian President. "We are bent on leaving no stone unturned," the Israeli premier added.

President Mubarak, however, said this matter should be decided by the two sides, noting that the atmosphere is clear to start negotiations on the Syrian track. "Syria also wants peace," according to President Mubarak.

Previous Stories:
  Damascus: Peace will come in few months if negotiations start from stopping point   (7/9/1999)
  Sheikh Yassin: Hopes on Barak have no foundation   (7/8/1999)
  Mubarak to receive Barak tomorrow   (7/8/1999)
  Erekat asks for halt of settlements   (7/8/1999)
  Levy for building confidence between Israel and each of Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinians   (7/8/1999)
  Syria reciprocates Barak's desire for peace   (7/8/1999)
  Moussa: Israel must build confidence in peace process   (7/7/1999)
  Barak's new government   (7/6/1999)

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