Powell-Moussa meeting is very crucial

US Secretary of State Colin Powell met Friday with Foreign minister Amr Moussa. The meeting is part of consultations and meetings held by Moussa with the US Administration officials to gear up for a summit between Presidents George W. Bush and Hosni Mubarak at the White House on Monday.

Emerging from the meeting, Moussa said talks dwelt on a host of issues including the Middle East peace process, the Israeli shelling of Palestinian towns and villages, the Iraqi crisis, the Sudanese issue, bilateral relations and preparations for the Mubarak-Bush summit.

In press statements late Friday, Powell said the issue of Sudan was given attention and was tackled frankly and objectively.

He called for drawing a new policy on dealing with the status quo in Sudan.

The Egyptian-Libyan initiative does not mean absence of any other initiatives on reconciliation in Sudan, said Moussa.

The Iraqi issue figure high on talks, said Moussa. He added that Powell was interested in the Amman summit and its resolutions.

On the Middle East, Moussa underlined the need to halt all Israeli acts of provocation which incite violence. He praised President George W. Bush's call on Israel and the Palestinians to halt violence as a start for resuming negotiations.

Moussa cited the resumption of settlements and demolishing Palestinian houses as examples of Israeli acts of provocation.

He added that the Arabs are so upset of the Israeli hostile procedures and excessive use of force.

The conflict will remain as long as the Israeli occupation continues, said the Minister. He called on the US administration to play the role of the honest mediator.

Moussa described as unjustified the US use of veto against Security Council resolution on providing the Palestinian with international protection.

However, the most important thing is the resumption of the active US role, Moussa noted.

Asked about Egypt's role in convincing the Palestinians to resume the process, Moussa said that Egypt has never stopped playing its role for a just and comprehensive peace.

Egypt does not meddle in the Palestinian decisions, he underlined.

He excluded a possible agreement on the Egyptian-US free-trade zone during Mubarak's visit, slated for Saturday.

Asked about claims that Iraq's possesses weapons of mass destruction, Moussa said that this issue should not be addressed apart from other weapons in the whole region.

Iraq might have weapons of mass destruction but Israeli surely have its own, the top Egyptian diplomat noted.

He described the situation in the region as critical and getting worse due to the constant escalation and called on all parties to bring it to a halt.

Violence should stop provided that acts of provocation are brought to an end, Moussa said.

The Amman summit marks the beginning of a new Arab order that have a unified stance over a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace not the one offered by Israel, said Moussa.

Moussa highlighted the importance of resuming Iraq-UN dialogue in May on sanctions and resolutions of the Security Council.

"Pan-Arab action is not exclusive on the Arab-Israeli issue as economic issues also figured high on agenda of all Arab meetings," Moussa said.

"The summit called for a comprehensive peace based on international legitimacy resolutions," he added.

Moussa refused to describe Camp David II and Taba as failure and said time was not enough.

Moussa branded claims that President Yasser Arafat does not seek a solution to the issue as reflecting Israeli viewpoints. He voiced belief that Bush's administration wants to work out a settlement.

He voiced belief that Arafat is ready for a historic settlement that would bring in a real Palestinian state.

Asked if Arafat is likely to be invited to visit Washington, Moussa said time will come for such an invitation and visit.

Asked whether Iraq poses a threat to Egypt and Arab countries, Moussa said that Iraq is not a threat. He added that it was agreed in Amman to lift sanctions imposed on Iraq.

He described US plans of "smart sanctions" as a step in the right direction and Iraq is not a threat to any country.

Asked about his comment on Sharon's call on US to call off military aid to Egypt, Moussa said that Sharon underlined that he did not ask for this.

No one in the Arab world speaks of war, as there is a unified stance on the need for a just and comprehensive peace, he added.