Moussa-Indyk meeting covers Israeli-Palestinian talks

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa met with Martin Indyk, the US assistant secretary of state for Middle East affairs, who is currently visiting Cairo.

After their meeting, which lasted for more than an hour, Moussa said that the US official presented the results of his talks with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Israel, and the advancement in the peace process within the US initiative, pointing out that matters still require further discussions.

Answering journalists' questions, Moussa stated that the Palestinian side's reply to the US initiative was positive and Egypt also expects the Israeli reply to be positive.

He added that the Palestinians showed courage in their acceptance of the US offer to enhance the peace process because they have a strategic outlook.

Concerning his expectations toward the May 4 peace talks in London, Moussa said that if matters continue to show no progress tensions will rise, but the Israeli side may be encouraged to agree with the US suggestion during the coming days.

Concerning the US demand that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat accept an Israeli withdrawal of less than 13.1%, Moussa said there is no such demand.

Indyk said he discussed with Moussa the peace process in the Middle East, in addition to a number of other issues of US and Egyptian interest.