Moussa: The Arab conditions suffer
Egypt-Regional, Politics, 10/22/1999

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa has asserted that there are no foreign pressures to prevent the convening of an Arab summit.

He added, "The Arab situation suffers something in itself, apart from any foreign pressures." He renewed his country's opposition to the Israeli settlements in the occupied Arab territories and considered them as a "stab" to the Middle East peace process.

Moussa called on the countries of the Damascus Declaration's signatory states (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt and Syria) to work for recovering and "reactivating it," stressing that all the declaration's signatory states share a common view toward keeping it.

Moussa reiterated that Egypt "refuses the partition of Iraq or interference in its internal affairs."

In a press conference he held in Cairo on Tuesday evening, the Egyptian foreign minister underlined the importance of convening the Arab summit in order to coordinate Arab stances.

He indicated that such a summit will be held "eventually in the year 2000, because it needs preparation, understanding and agreement." He denied news that there is a "coolness" in Egyptian-Arab relations, noting that such "claimed coolness is but a wrong analysis of matters." He added that there is a common Arab stand which is based on waiting until the situation on the three peace tracks (Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians) is cleared.

Replying to a question whether Egypt is ready to carry a role to resume negotiations between Syria and Israel, the Egyptian foreign minister said: "It is the interests of all, foremost Israel and Syria to resume negotiations on the Israeli- Syrian tracks in a way conducive to a genuine move rather than mere negotiations."

Moussa asserted that there are not two camps inside the Damascus Declaration member states, in reference to the Gulf states on the one hand and Syria and Egypt on the other, but he considered that this coalition, which was established on the sidelines of the liberation of Kuwait, "is deadlocked, in general."

The Egyptian minister continued, "It is not of interests when finding the Arab conditions satisfactory for any Arab gathering, including the Gulf Cooperation Council, the al-Maghreb federation nor the Damascus Declaration signatory states."

As for the situation in Iraq, the Egyptian foreign minister said that having the question of Iraq moved from intensifying obstacles into suspending them constitutes a turning point that will affect the situation as a whole.

On the relations with Iran, Moussa said, "There is no opposite direction between the positive Arab-Iranian relations and the question of the three United Arab Emirates islands."

He announced that his country's relations with Iran "are proceeding forward." He continued that Egyptian - Iranian relations are developed. It is not required to have bad relations between Egypt and Iran."

He reiterated that positive relations with Iran does not definitely means a retreat in our position to backing the UAE over the issues of the three islands, rather stressed " his country's backing to the right of the UAE in restoring back the islands."

Previous Stories:
  Moussa meets with UK defense minister   (10/21/1999)
  Moussa assures Egypt's adherence to a just peace in the area   (10/21/1999)
  Moussa, Arafat discuss peace   (10/20/1999)

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