Our stances toward Iraq caused us problems, Mubarak says
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has concentrated most of his talks with Egyptian intellectuals during the opening of the 31st Cairo International Book Fair on Tuesday on the Egyptian policy towards Iraq. He stressed that Cairo is doing its best in the "interest of this country [Iraq], in a way not to contradict with Egyptian interests."
The inauguration of the exhibition was coincided with traces of regret shown by Egyptian intellectuals over the cancellation of a lecture by Arab Egyptian journalist Muhammad Hasanin Haikal for the second running year.
On the peace process Mubarak stressed that it will not "get out of its current stalemate in the meantime, unless a miracle would happen." He added that the US will not do any thing with Israel to force it to implement the Wye River accord.
President Mubarak renewed his refusal to receive Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
President Mubarak linked his stances towards Iraq to the interests of the Egyptian labor force in the Gulf states. He stressed that he is not ready to lose the support of Arab states "in order to win some extremists." He added, "I have labor interests in numerous places that should be taken into account. It is a matter of loss and gain," he said.
More than one million Egyptians are working in the Gulf region, most of them in Saudi Arabia. Their money transfers constitute a source of Egypt's national income in hard currency.
Replying to a question concerning the US-British military strikes on Iraq, Mubarak said, "Can we now prevent the US from striking? We do not have everything in our hands. I do not have the ability to prevent that (striking Iraq). I am not a superman."
He complained against the "insults" addressed by the Iraqi press against him such as accusing him of "treason." Mubarak recalled the "six thousand Egyptian workers who died in Iraq at the end of the 1980s, but he commented that he does not plan "to revenge Iraq."
He continued, "What is taking place is not logical. They (the Iraqis) consider any decision they do not support as treason toward Arab solidarity."
Mubarak noted disputes between Egypt and each of the US and Britain. He said, "Our stand beside Iraq caused us numerous problems with the two countries."
He, at the same time, asserted, "Our stand is clear. We are not conspiring, do not take our instructions from any one and nothing is imposed on us."