El-Baz: We oppose non-Arab military alliances in the region

Osama El-Baz, President Mubarak's political advisor, commented yesterday on an Israeli call for Jordan and Egypt to participate in upcoming Israeli - Turkish military exercises and Egypt's attitude towards that call.

El-Baz said, "We have to wait, and see and not issue judgment until we know what is the content and the validity of the news in this regard and through our direct channels between us and Jordan we can find out their exact position" adding "They know our position."

El-Baz said "We oppose military alliances in the region because, first, the policy of alliances causes much harm to the region. Secondly, it is dangerous to establish alliances between Arab and non-Arab parties. Thirdly, we are putting Jordan in a position that make it a part of a non-Arab structure in strategic affairs and joint defense."

El-Baz added that previously the Israelis and Turks said their military cooperation was not an alliance and did not target the Arabs, but when the Turkish foreign minister visited Israel, he said with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that this is a military alliance.

El-Baz added, if this is reality, Egypt will follow the matter with great concern to learn all the dimensions of this alliance because it could appear to be against the Arab states.