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Tuesday, October 07, 1997
President Hosni Mubarak said that the construction of Jewish settlements would not guarantee Israelis security and urged them to go ahead with peace negotiations to attain this security. He criticized Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for rejecting to abide by the accords concluded by the previous Labor government with the Palestinians. "I do not accept this stand, even ahead of the Palestinians because accepting it means to accept one day their (Israelis) repudiation of peace agreements with us. So, we have demanded Israel as a State, and Netanyahu as the Premier, to observe treaties and accords," the Egyptian leader said in an interview with the Egyptian "Armed Forces" newspaper. "Egypt was the first Arab country to make peace with Israel and sign a US-brokered treaty in 1979. We affirm that we seek a just and comprehensive peace fulfilling stability ... And more than once I have reiterated that building settlements and imposing this as a fait accompli would not guarantee Israeli security," said Mubarak The Egyptian leader said that without Egypt, peace would not have been possible in the Middle East. "We cannot impose on the Palestinians or any other side nothing short of justice," he said, commenting on allegations that Egypt hampers Palestinian-Israeli reconciliation. " Egypt is a pivotal State with its role and Arab ties, and its political, economic, military and civilization gravity. Under no circumstances do we accept pressure. And our decision is underlined by our interests and national goals," said Mubarak, terming Cairo-Washington ties as good and balanced. "Though the US aid has helped us at many stages, we should know that the US assistance is reciprocated with a lot of imports from the US. Therefore, I have not raised the issue of US aid to Egypt during any of my US visits or in discussions with Congressmen," he said. Answering a question on criticisms in the Western media over Egypt's military power, Mubarak said, " We should know well that with its pivotal role and regional gravity, Egypt is always targeted. And what you are talking about are the cards of a political game they name the cards of mutual pressure. Still, I warn against dragging the area into alliances because this will affect its stability and plunge it into fresh tensions." He said that there was nothing new about Egypt's relations with Iran. The Egyptian leader, also, said the military victory scored by the Egyptians during the October 1973 War was the result of dedicated efforts and planning spanning six years after a defeat in the 1967. October 1973 War will remain among the most immortal wars in modern history because it was a legitimate and justified war in the full sense of the word. It aimed at liberating the occupied land, enabling the people to exercise their sovereignty over each and every inch of their homeland, and it was also a war for the sake of peace. Mubarak pointed out that of the key lessons to be learnt from that war were that power was not the monopoly of one side and that expansion was not to guarantee secure borders. He was referring to Israel whose Likud-led government is still pressing a security-for-security formula in lieu of the exchange of occupied Arab land-for-peace. The Egyptian army is equipped with the most sophisticated weaponry matching those available in the advanced countries, said Mubarak. He added that with its superb standards, the Egyptian army was now capable of handling any potential dangers to the national security. In his interview, Mubarak highlighted the State's interest in ensuring all possible care for the army personnel. He said LE 200 million welfare fund had been set up to offer non-refundable aid to the army troopers. President Mubarak recently ordered a pay rise for the army conscripts. "I seize every chance to improve the living and social standards of the army personnel because they are the genuine representation of Egyptian people," the President noted. President Mubarak today opens a sophisticated army media center, and a military medical complex in the Cairo area of Qobri El-Quba. The new facilities are launched as part of Egypt's marking of the 24th anniversary of its victory in the 1973 War. Taking up the home development scene, the President cited several huge projects being carried out nationwide, including a giant scheme in the southern Egyptian area of Toshki...... "We deem the Southern Valley Project our national project for the next century," Mubarak concluded. |
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