Prohibiting Arafat from attending Arab Summit, very dangerous

A senior Egyptian official yesterday warned of the perils of the deteriorating situation in the Middle East due to Israeli practices.

"The peace process in the Middle East is undergoing a stage that requires resorting logic and rationality," said Osama El-Baz, President Hosni Mubarak's Political Advisor.

He was speaking before flying to Frankfurt to attend a symposium on Europe's contribution to the Middle East peacemaking. He urged serious efforts so as to deny Israel the chance to steer the peace process.

On the likelihood that the Israeli authorities may bar Palestinian President Yasser Arafat from attending an upcoming Arab summit, El-Baz said: "This would be a dangerous matter."

All these Israeli practices cause damage to the peace process and Israel itself." He told Israel to learn that "President Arafat is not a prisoner".

"If he (Arafat) is prevented from moving, this means that he would have no power or authority to oversee the ceasefire," he warned.

Asked to comment on some' calls to Egypt to change religious syllabuses, E1-Baz said that no-one could meddle in Egypt's education policy or religious enlightenment.

"We reject claims that Islam is opposed to other civilizations and cultures".

He denied press reports that Israel had asked Egypt to free a jailed Israeli convicted of spying charges in return for releasing some Egyptian seamen Israel said it had arrested aboard a ship allegedly seized loaded with arms destined to the Palestinian self-rule areas.

Meanwhile, El-Baz met on Thursday with US envoy to Sudan John Danforth who is currently in Egypt.

Baz voiced hope the US efforts would yield positively in pushing matters towards resolve of the Sudanese problem.

Baz said that the real responsibility for achieving peace and stability in Sudan is shouldered by the direct parties concerned and the neighbouring countries, especially Egypt and Libya.

"The Libyan-Egyptian initiative could coordinate with the IGAD's as they are not contradictory," noted Baz.

The US says it will not replace any of the main parties and will neither float new initiatives, said Baz, adding that Washington only wants to push matters towards settlement and agreement.

"The US side has no solution formula for the problem but it is only interested in the humanitarian aid and reconciliation," he added.

"The Egyptian-Libyan initiative includes positive points to get out of the current logjam, end fighting, regulate relations among factions and areas in Sudan," added Baz.

He said the US major concern now is to narrow the gap between the two sides.

"The US does not supply weapons to any side," he added.

"Furthermore, El-Baz stressed Egypt's keenness on cooperation with the US and the Inter-Governmental Authority for development (IGAD) to settle the Sudanese problems," said Danforth.

The US official described as "excellent his talks with Baz.