President Mubarak said the Security Council Resolution No. 1701 on halting fighting in Lebanon is a step in the right direction.

"We welcome the resolution and support what is accepted by the Lebanese government, the President said adding that Egypt supports any international move for stemming bloodshed among Lebanese citizens, halting the destruction of the Lebanese infrastructure and rendering thousands of Lebanese citizens homeless.

In exclusive statements to Al-Messa Editor-in-Chief, the President said in spite of the amendments introduced by the Arab delegation to the draft resolution at the last hours, yet the resolution is unbalanced in many aspects.

Mubarak criticized the resolution for failing to clearly answer his repeated demands since the very beginning of the crisis mainly to call for 'an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

It disregarded parts of the seven-item draft plan floated by Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora at Rome conference, he said. And it also overlooked all of the amendments that the Lebanese government had asked the UNSC to endorse, he added.

Mubarak slammed the UNSC for its slowness' in moving to contain the crisis and end the Israeli aggression on Lebanon.

Any way "We welcome the international resolution for being the first step in the right direction. And, to put it simply, we just accept what the Lebanese government accepts."

Mubarak said Egypt supports any international overture to stop the blood shedding in Lebanon and end the sufferings of its people and the destruction of its infrastructure.

President Mubarak said that Lebanon and Israel were about to announce their endorsement of Resolution 1701. As regards Israel, he said he expects it to announce its approval during its cabinet meeting Sunday13/8/2006. As far as Lebanon is concerned, he said he received call Saturday12/8/206 from Lebanese Premier Seniora.

The UNSC issuance of its resolution is not the end of the line, Mubarak said.

The resolution would be meaningless if there were no good intentions and if none of the parties to the conflict, particularly Israel, were bent on implementing it.

Mubarak said that the root cause of the problem in the Middle East must be addressed and seriously handled.

A just and overall peace must be restored to all parts of the Middle East, to Lebanon, to Syria and to the occupied Palestinian lands, he said.

He warned that unless the US recognized that fact and the international Quartet on the Middle East sought such an end, more crises, similar to the present one, would occur in the future.

Mubarak called on all parties; Israel, Hezbollah and Hamas and the other Palestinian factions, to let their conscience and the best interest of their peoples as their guide. They should have common sense and act wisely to serve their own peoples' interests instead of dragging into endless and illogic wars, he said.

Asked by AL-Messa Chief Editor whether he meant to include Hezbollah when he made his assertions that Egypt's efforts in support for Lebanon and its people would be "indiscriminately" maintained, Mubarak said Hezbollah is a part of the social, political and sectarian fabric of Lebanon.


"Indeed I meant what I said," he noted repeating Egypt's resolution to continue to support all the people of Lebanon without exception.

"We are not after the differences between the various sects and powers in Lebanon for we deal with Lebanon as a whole," he said.

On the validity of holding an urgent Arab summit at present, he said Egypt has never stopped its contacts and consultations with its sisterly Arab countries nor all its strenuous work to crystallize a joint Arab action that can stem bloodletting and preserve Lebanon's independence, sovereignty and unity.

He cited his meeting Saturday12/8/2006 with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, asserting the presence of constant coordination between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait and the rest of Arab nations.

He asserted that any Arab summit would require good preparations and intensive contacts to be held and to be fruitful.

The President noted that reviving the Joint Arab Defence Pact needs periodical meetings by the Arab armed forces Chief Commanders for the purpose of coordination of stances.

As for the Palestinian cause, Mubarak noted that it was the core of the Middle East conflict and that Egypt had sacrificed a lot for its sake.

Mubarak added that Egypt had talked to Israel on the issue of detained Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Aziz Doweik and his companions. Great efforts are being made for their release, he added.

Answering a question on a visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki to Egypt that started earlier in the day Mubarak said that his talks with the Iranian top diplomat would tackle the situation in Lebanon and the necessity to adopt constructive stances by all regional parties, including Iran, and international parties, including the five permanent members of the UN Security Council .

Mubarak noted that the talks would also deal with the Iranian nuclear file, especially after a UNSC resolution giving Iran a deadline until late August to stop its uranium enrichment programme.

Mubarak noted that Egypt's relations with the US and Israel are employed to serve regional issues and handle dangers besetting the Middle East.