Egypt has strong position in US
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said that Egypt's position is still strong in the United States.
"I felt that there are a minority in the US congress who are speaking loudly but they do not represent the public opinion there although they could launch a campaign for collecting signatures against Egypt," Maher said.
Maher's statements came in his address to the general assembly of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs which was held late Sunday under the Chairmanship of the Council Chief Mohammad Shaker.
Maher kept the Council posted on the outcome of his latest visit to the US and his meetings with US officials.
"When it comes to voting on Egyptian issues, they are usually in our favor," said Maher, citing the approval of Congress appropriations committee of the economic and military assistance for Egypt.
As for Mitchell committee recommendations, Egypt's top diplomat said there is a full Egyptian interest in the necessity to put it into practice as a whole.
As for dispatching international observers to the Palestinian territories, Maher pointed out that US Secretary of State Colin Powell did not reject it neither did he rule out the need to have some kind of monitoring not only of ceasefire but also of the political issue as well.
On the European role in the peace process, Maher said that Europe has now a place in the peacemaking process in the Middle East, describing this as positive indication.
"Among the criticisms I heard during my latest visit to Washington was that Egypt is strongly backing the Palestinian people and the National Authority," Maher said, describing the support for Palestinian people as a destiny and firm faith of the Egyptian people.
Maher asserted that violence is actually committed by Israel which strikes using F-16 Jet fighters, warning that Israel has lost its credibility due to the conduct of its government.
Asked about the Iraqi issue, the foreign minister said that it was raised during his visit to Washington, adding that Egypt is not backing the continuation of sanctions.
"It is high time that siege imposed on the Iraqi people should be lifted", Maher said, calling on Iraq, meanwhile, to abide by the international legitimacy.
It is worth noting, according to Maher that every time there is an attempt to alleviate the burdens of the Iraqi people, some voices in Baghdad come up with some statements.
"We want to help Iraq and we want Iraq to help itself," he noted. As for the situation in Sudan, Maher said that Egypt is not biased in favor of the government or the opposition. "It is only siding with a unified Sudan, he said.
"Egypt is continuing its contacts with all parties there and the Egyptian -Libyan paper highlights the importance of maintaining Sudan's territorial integrity. The paper is acceptable by all parties and manifests the Egyptian stance, elaborated Maher.
Asked about the Palestinian Intifada (uprising), Maher said the Palestinian people will survive and will continue their struggle one time by stone and another by negotiations.
Maher called for removing obstacles to restart negotiations.
"Today is the time for negotiations," he noted.