Message from Mubarak to Arafat
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher conveyed a message from President Mubarak to Leader Yasser Arafat in Palestinian Ramallah.
Following the meeting, Minister Maher said the President's message to Arafat was a message of appreciation and support for the Palestinians.
He said Israel regrettably did not respond to peace endeavours.
On his part, the Palestinian leader expressed his appreciation of the Egyptian stance.
Minister Maher said he saw the demolition caused by the Israeli attacks in Ramallah.
Minister Maher said a press conference upon his return home yesterday from Ramallah he underlined to Arafat Egypt's firm backing to the Palestinian people for an end to Israeli occupation and withdrawal from Palestinian territories.
Maher said that Arafat appreciated Mubarak's efforts and positive role. He added that he posted Arafat on Egyptian efforts with all parties for moving towards a comprehensive settlement to the Palestinian cause based on international legitimacy resolutions.
He voiced optimism over the exerted efforts and the Palestinians' steadfastness.
"The world as a whole and the US in particular should play a positive role to bring in a settlement to the issue," said Maher.
Asked whether talks with Arafat touched on US Mideast Peace Envoy Anthony Zinni's proposals, Maher said talks tackled all issues and Arafat underlined that the first step is an immediate Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories.
"Talks also tackled meetings held with US State Secretary Colin Powell in Cairo who said the US wanted an immediate pullout to be followed with movement on the political and security domains," Maher said.
"Palestinian-Israeli political negotiations should be based on UN Security Council resolutions, the Arab initiative, the land-for-peace formula and US President George W. Bush's as well as Powell's speeches," Maher said.
Words uttered by Powell during his visits to Egypt, Morocco and Jordan have stressed the existence of a firm US stance demanding an immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian territories, the top Egyptian diplomat said.
He was replying a query on a US backtracking on its previous stance.
Maher said there is a need for an explanation of statements attributed to Powell which did not include an immediate need of an Israeli pullout.
Security can never be realised without a political settlement that would safeguard rights of the Palestinians and Israelis, said Maher. He added that the Israeli measures are rejected by the world.
Maher voiced confidence that the Palestinian steadfastness and the Arab support have been widely appreciated in the whole world.
He stressed that the aggressive Israeli policy would not bring in security for the Israelis.
Egypt does not support targetting civilians but the Israeli policy is responsible for this violence as it creates frustration and despair, the top Egyptian diplomat said.
"Arafat's demands are the same as ours i.e. an immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces, and end of siege on the Palestinian people and leadership, sending international observers and the re-construction of the Palestinian Authority (PA)", said Maher.
On the impressions he had of his meeting with Arafat, Maher said the President was strong and firmly committed to the Palestinians' right. He added that he saw on the ground destruction in the Palestinian territories.
"The Israeli government has violated all norms and values and President Arafat's confinement to a number of rooms is indicative of the Israelis' disregard of all laws," he added.
Some foreign youth lived with Arafat and presented themselves as international protection of the Palestinian leadership who thanked me to visit him, he added.
Maher said that President Hosni Mubarak's assigning him to be the first Arab Foreign Minister to meet him in such circumstances mirrors Egypt's firm support to the Palestinian people.
He voiced optimism over peace potentials and conviction that the Israeli government adopts a failed policy.
"If the Israeli people wants peace, they will have to force this government to change its policy or find another way out of this logjam created by their government," Maher concluded.