Egypt will not ratify CTBT before Israel does

President Hosni Mubarak received yesterday a message from Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi on inviting Egypt to ratify the comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Emerging from the meeting, Komura said President Mubarak is fully aware of the importance of signing such treaty but it is difficult that Egypt would not endorse it if Israel would not.

The message was conveyed by former Japanese foreign minister Nasahiko Komura, Obuchi's special envoy, at the presidential premises where the Japanese ambassador was present.

Komura added he reviewed with Mubarak developments of the Middle East peace process, describing it as "going through a very critical phase".

"Japan holds that there is a positive atmosphere manifested by all parties concerned following Barak's accession to power in Israel" said Komura.

Komura expressed his country's appreciation of President Hosni Mubarak's initiative which calls for rendering the Middle East area free from weapons of mass destruction.

During a meeting with Speaker of the people's Assembly Ahmed Fathi Sorour, the former Japanese foreign minister voiced hope that Egypt would attend the conference held in April on CTBT. On his part, Sorour said that Israel was the party which complicates issues and refuses to sign CTBT.

"Japan's insistence that its initiative should be signed by all countries without exception will have a positive reaction at all levels," he said.

Sorour said that the Egyptian parliament was following with interest the march of democracy in Japan, underlining the need to develop economic cooperation among the two countries.