Al-Ahram: Blair: Arafat as elected leader of Palestinians can never be denied

The British ambassador to Egypt Derek Plumbly asserted that his country respects Palestinian President Yasser Arafat being the democratically elected one. Arafat's role in the peace process can never be denied. Hence, Britain is always keen on keeping contact channels open with him.

Plumbly added that "We should not understand the British stance of not meeting with Arafat as a personal attitude. Rather, in the framework of the peace march what matters is not individuals but how to reactivate the process and implement the roadmap."

The British diplomat said it is hard now to speculate what would take place in the future. What is currently significant is the talks that should be held between the concerned parties, especially between Palestinian and Israeli premiers to resume negotiations and push the peace process forward. He reaffirmed that his country rejects unilateral steps in the peace track. Such one-sided efforts will not work.

In his statements to Al-Ahram daily, Plumbly elaborated that the latest talks between President Hosni Mubarak and the British Prime Minister Tony Blair proved an Egyptian-British agreement over the importance of resuming negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

Mubarak and Blair also agreed that the peace process should be revived and both leaders exchanged several constructive ideas that can help drive the peace march forward.