Mubarak's on internal and regional issues

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak said he is determined to go ahead with the political reform process and implement the pledges he declared in his platform during the recent presidential election mainly in curbing unemployment, solving education problems, boosting scientific research and technology, upgrading the local administration and increasing production.

The President on Thursday said the Egyptian people are capable of overcoming hindrances obstructing reform plans and ambitious national projects in the years ahead.

In an exclusive interview with Al Quwat Al Mosallaha (Armed Forces) newspaper on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of October 1973 war victory, the president said reforms in Egypt constitute a continuous rather than an emergency process.

This process, the president said, will not be achieved through jumps, but in a gradual way that copes with the progress done by Egyptian people in the various fields.

The President urged all Egyptian political parties to enhance their social and political roles and to prepare new cadres capable of engaging in competition.

The parties are al so required to merge with rank and file and to address the people's problems. The Egyptian armed force s, with their honourable performance in war and peace, have taken part in universal peace keeping operations in several hot spots, especially in sister African countries, the president added.

On the Mideast conflict, the president pointed out that this conflict could only be solved through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state through the final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, as well as Israeli withdrawal from the remaining occupied Arab lands in the Golan Heights and the occupied belt in southern Lebanon.It is in the interest of all parties, including Israel, that a comprehensive peace is achieved as it is the only means to begin a new era where all peoples of the region live in peace and security and where all traces of aggression, tension, killing and destruction disappear, the president said.

It is in the interest of all parties, including Israel, that a comprehensive peace is achieved as its is the only means to begin a new era where all peoples of the region live in peace and security and where all traces of aggression, tension, killing and destruction disappear, the president said.

Mubarak also noted that Israeli withdrawal from the rest of the occupied Arab territories in Syria and Lebanon is crucial for ending the Mideast conflict.

The president stressed that this conflict will not come to an end unless an independent Palestinian state is created as envisaged by the internationally backed roadmap for peace. "It will be in all parties' interests, including Israel, that a comprehensive peace is realised," Mubarak told the newspaper."

"This would definitely be the only means to open a new chapter when all the countries of the region can co-exist in peace, security and cooperation," he said.

During the interview, Mubarak outlined Egypt's persistent efforts in support of the Palestinian cause, whether with the Palestinians themselves, or with the Israelis, or with the Middle East Quartet which comprises the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia.

Mubarak also expressed tope that the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank would be a step towards the resumption of the long-stalled peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

On Sudan, the president reiterated Egypt's keenness to help Sudan achieve national reconciliation.

"Now the top priority is the implementation of the Sudanese government's deal with the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) after the formation of a national unity government on September 20. As for Darfur, the president said that although the situation is complex, Egypt is encouraging the SPLM to participate in the Abuja talks between the Khartoum Government and the western rebels.

Concerning the UN World Summit last month, Mubarak said Egypt was fair in its demands regarding reform of the UN Security Council or confronting terrorism