Egyptian-Libyan initiative, complements IGAD plan

Speaking to reporters Wednesday about the outcome of talks between President Hosni Mubarak and Djibouti President and about conditions in Somalia in light of the relevant Djibouti initiative, Moussa assessed the initiative as likely to be beneficial in reaching a new starting point, but regretted the fact that previous starting points had been stymied due to the conduct of Somali leaders.

"Presidents Mubarak and Guellah have, along with the Egyptian and Djiboutian delegations, held important consultations on means to run the peace process in Somalia," Moussa said.

Asked on how he viewed the future of the Somali crisis, Moussa believed that the future depended on how the Somalis and their leaders behave.

On prospects for coordination between Egyptian-Libyan initiative and another sponsored by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on realizing national reconciliation in Sudan, Moussa said the issue was raised at the Egyptian-Djiboutian Summit as Djibouti was current IGAD President.

The IGAD is interested in effecting such coordination, Moussa said, citing President Guellah's assertions in this respect during the recent IGAD Summit.

Responding to a question on Ethiopian-Eritrean rejection of the Egypt-Libya proposal, Moussa reiterated that the two initiatives were in no way on a crash course and that on the contrary the two could be integrated.

Asked on the recent reconciliation between Sudanese President Omar Bashir and Sheikh Hassan Turabi, Secretary General of the ruling National Congress Party, and whether it could help efforts to realize reconciliation between the government and opposition, Moussa said developments in Sudan's internal situation would doubtlessly affect all coming steps.

On whether Egypt was contacting the American and Israeli sides, in light of President Mubarak's recent visits to Syria and Jordan, Moussa said contacts between Egypt and the US were surely afoot.