Mubarak - Clinton talks , positive and important

Egypt's Presidential Political Advisor Osama AL Baz said US President Bill Clinton has welcomed the role played by Egypt in the Middle East peace process.

" We are not negotiating on behalf of the Palestinians," Baz said.

" President Mubarak has said that we are in constant contacts with the parties namely Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Premier Ehud Barak in an attempt to bridge the gap between them to reach a settlement over the next few weeks," Baz added.

"President Clinton said his country will work in coordination with Egypt over the coming weeks and that he will be meeting separately in New York with Arafat and Barak," Baz noted.

On whether the Syrian track was discussed during Mubarak-Clinton summit, Baz said there was no concentration on this issue but it was brought up after the two leaders probed the Palestinian track.

"President Mubarak told Egypt's guest that the Syrian-Israel peace track should also be activated, as it would be difficult to reach a comprehensive accord without having a breakthrough over all peace tracks," Baz further said.

Regarding the Egyptian proposals, Baz said that Egypt is not negotiating with the US or on behalf of the Palestinians.

"Egypt just floats some ideas," Baz added, noting that President Mubarak has presented to the US side some proposals on pushing forward the peace process.

"However, this does not mean that Egypt has a prepared clear-cut formula but just several ideas and alternatives to find out a way out of the current dilemma," he said.

"All proposals take into consideration international legitimacy," according to Baz.

He denied any American pressure on Egypt.

" No pressure whatsoever was exerted on Egypt," he said. On the contrary, there is appreciation, he added.

Baz quoted Clinton as saying that the American Administration at all official levels appreciates the Egyptian role and considers it constructive and indispensable for any agreement.

The Egyptian role is not to negotiate on behalf of the two parties, but to try and jump the gap between them on certain issues, he indicated.

"Jerusalem is one of the bones of contention, and normally we talk about that issue directly with the Palestinians and Israelis and will continue to do so in the coming stage," Baz pointed out.

"There will be talks by the Palestinians and Israelis and Egypt will have talks with each party separately," he said.

The American Administration will also have talks with both parties soon, he added.

"Arafat will come Wednesday in Cairo and we will continue efforts," Baz said.

"There are no ideas that could be accepted or rejected, but there are ideas around which the discussions are crystallized in a bid to reach satisfactory solutions to both parties," Baz said.

Answering a question on whether there was hope that an agreement would be reached before September 13, he said there is hope to reach a framework or basis that controls settlement.

"President Hosni Mubarak spoke with Clinton about the necessity of budging the Syrian track, because it was by no means less important than other tracks," he added.

"Without a tangible progress between Syria and Israel, the peace process could not be considered as comprehensive," he said.

"We have all been committed to a comprehensive and just peace and not an agreement on some tracks excluding others...and President Mubarak affirmed the significance and vitality of progress on the Syrian track."

"He said that it was high time headway on the Syrian track was forged," Baz said.

On Israel's acting Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben Ami's statements, he described them as misquoted.

Such statements are usually misquoted because of speed and are inaccurate because Ben Ami has a moderate personality and knows well the complexity of the position.

US President Bill Clinton had arrived at Cairo international airport early yesterday where he was welcomed by President Mubarak, State Senior officials and the US Ambassador in Cairo.

During his three-hour visit, the US President was accompanied by a delegation including Sandy Berger, the National Security Advisor, John Podesta, the Chief of the WhiteHouse Staff and Dennis Ross, the US Coordinator of the peace process.