President Mubarak Friday July 21 called for immediate cease fire on the Lebanese and Palestinian arenas for saving lives and putting an end to the destruction of infrastructures.

The President said the military solution would not end the crisis immediately but rather would complicate it.

In exclusive statements to Abdallah Hassan, the editor in-chief of Middle East news agency MENA, the President voiced hope that the Israelis would be convinced of a cease fire and negotiations to end the crisis. Mubarak noted that the current military operations were destructive on both sides and that only civilians were paying the price.

Mubarak affirmed he would maintain contacts and consultations with Arab and foreign leaders to find a way out of the current crisis, voicing hope his efforts would be a success.

As for Israel's declaration it would continue attacks for another week and Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrrallah's threats to continue fighting, Mubarak said such statements are only part of a psychological warfare, stressing the exigency of a ceasefire and starting a dialogue.

On the strategic dialogue between Egypt and the US which was held recently in Washington, President Mubarak said dialogue concentrated on the Palestinian and Lebanese issues and confrontations between the Palestinians, and Israelis on one side and between Lebanese and Israelis on the other.

The President regretted that the dialogue was not able to reach an urgent and immediate solution to current crisis.

President Mubarak, however, underlined the need for efforts by different regional and international parties to reach an unconditional ceasefire, a priority to Egypt, which would contain the volatile situation which could produce grave consequences.

In reply to a question on the current call for an emergency Arab summit to contain the situation, President Mubarak told MENA's editor-in-chief that he welcomed the summit in principle and that Egypt had informed the Arab League of its stance.

Major powers inside the UN Security council and outside it are not currently inclined to call for enforcing such a ceasefire, Mubarak said.

Within this context, Mubarak stressed the need for consultative summits among several Arab leaders to coordinate stances on issues and talk on ways to move regionally and internationally to solve problems.

As for the dispatch of emergency medical aid to Lebanon, Mubarak said he issued directives to send aid to Lebanese citizens to help them face the current humanitarian crisis.
July 22, 2006