Maher denies September attacks motivated US interest in peace

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher denied on Wednesday that the tragic September 11 attacks prompted the current U.S. active interest in the Middle East peace process.

Addressing a seminar on the Mediterranean, organized by the European institute for studies, Maher said President Mubarak was in constant contact with US.

President George W. Bush before September II to discuss means to salvage the serious situation in the Palestinian lands.

'The U.S. side was convinced that declaring the Palestinian State was the solution but September events delayed the statement that was made after that by President Bush,' Maher said.

Israel will definitely have a place among the countries in the region if it stopped the extremist policies of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the use of F-16s against innocent civilians and moved to achieve peace and security, he added.

Asked on the current Israeli proposals, Maher said they are completely unacceptable because the Israeli premier is offering a long-term interim agreement that will solve nothing.

The proposed Palestinian State is already sliced by the settlements and is controlled by the Israelis economically and politically.

'The Palestinians cannot move freely unless The Israelis allow them to do so, he added.

He voiced belief that these proposals do not form a ground for peaceful co-existence between the Israelis and the Palestinians who are trying to live in peace and security,' Maher said.

Sharon and likewise the international community know very well the real solution to the peace process, Maher stressed.

Concerning the US led attacks on Afghanistan, Maher say Egypt suffered a lot from terrorism and from the very outset of the September attacks it took part in the international Campaign to fight this serious phenomenon and the best evidence to that is the information provided to the US and the EU on the organizations and those involved in terrorism or funding terror activities.

The US has the right to take measures against those responsible for the September attacks but it has also to avoid civilian casualties, he added.