Moussa: A new Madrid or referendum serve only to delay needed decisions

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said that an Israeli suggestion for a second peace conference in Madrid is illogical as the Madrid conference in 1991 established the main basis for the peace process through addressing all its fundamental issues.

Concerning the Egyptian position toward the Israeli prime minister's call to hold an international multi-sided conference to tackle the current problem of the peace process, Moussa said that this subject has been finalized and "what is currently suggested is the Egyptian - French initiative for an international conference that can address Israeli policy."

He added that the conference suggested according to this initiative is not to renegotiate the principals established at the first Madrid conference or comment on them, adding that these principals have to be respected and implemented.

Concerning the measures to be taken for implementing the Egyptian - French initiative, Moussa said that the French envoy will arrive at Cairo at the beginning of the coming week to consult with Egyptian officials to crystallize the details of this initiative.

He said the Arab suggested referendum in Israel is an Israeli internal affair confirming the Israeli procrastination policy, "Nothing more or less."

Moussa added that an international conference will become a real possibility if the US peace initiative does not succeed, illustrating that the consultations and communications between the Palestinian and Israeli leaders are futile and cannot be regarded as negotiations, only communications.

Answering a question about reducing US subsidies to Egypt, Moussa said: "This is a special issue where Egypt will hold talks with the American side to agree upon the method of tacking the future arrangements for this subsidy."