Egypt backs Palestinian right to declare state

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa confirmed that Egypt will back up Palestinian President Yasser Arafat whether he decides to declare the independent Palestinian state on May 4 or to delay it.

Moussa said today that the Palestinians should have the right of self-determination at the time they select and that no one has the right to object.

Furthermore, Moussa said, there is international unanimity on the Palestinian right to establish an independent state, where the current issue is the date of declaration.

Concerning whether Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu is reelected and his effect on the Middle East peace process, Moussa expressed his hope that if Netanyahu wins the elections, he will change his policy so as to achieve progress in the peace process.

He also expressed his hope that the leader of the Israeli Labor Party, Ehud Barak, would revive the peace process if he wins the elections.