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Wednesday, November 05, 1997
In an exclusive interview President Mubarak granted to Good Morning Egypt TV programme, he stressed the fact that Netanyahu is responsible to the ME peace process deadlock. Mubarak said he has no hope that peace process would move forward. "The re-deployment of Israeli troops from the West Bank was scheduled to be completed on September 7th. But they (the Israelis) do not want to implement it," he said. "I'd like to say that depriving the Palestinians from their land, and hoping Israel would understand this, would solve nothing, and would lead to no stability and would not end terrorism," added the Egyptian leader. The only way to maintain security of the Israeli people, he said, was to give the Palestinians their land The President, moreover, accused Israel of using baseless justifications to circumvent the implementation of the accords.. "If the Israeli government thinks that this situation would end terrorism, I say no. On the contrary violence will escalate... They have first to put the fire down by giving the Palestinians their land," he said. Mubarak added that the Israeli procrastination ignited anger of the Arab peoples and the Arab public opinion was pressing their governments to act. "For instance, there is no Arab nation that accepts to send any person to the Doha conference. I think even the Qatari people are not satisfied with this situation," he said. Palestinian-Israeli talks broke down in March over the establishment of a new Jewish settlement in the Arab East Jerusalem area of Jebal Abu Ghneim. Arabs link their participation in the controversial Middle East and North Africa economic conference, scheduled in the Qatari capital later this month, on achieving real progress in the stalled talks. Mubarak said anew that Egypt would announce its stance on the conference at the "last minute." "Whether we say yes or no, they would say that we want to influence other Arab countries are independent and sovereign and take their decisions by themselves," he said. Mubarak added that the government cannot take a decision to be opposed by the majority of the Egyptian people. "An aide of the Israeli Prime Minister said in a seminar organised by (former Labour party premier) Shimon Peres in Tel Aviv ... that they do not care about economy but rather about politics and the military situation. If they (the Israelis) do not want economy, so why should we rush up. We will take our decision that goes with the Egyptian public opinion," the President told the Egyptian TV programme. The President's interview also covered the outcome of his visit to Malaysia to take part in the G-15 summit meeting. Mubarak, moreover, highlighted the importance of' Egyptian-Malaysian economic cooperation especially as Kuala Lumpur has a vast economic experiences. The delegation that accompanied the Egyptian leader comprised businessmen to "achieve joint cooperation and joint investments between the two countries in many fields." President Mubarak said that Egypt should showcase its successful economic reforms and investment atmosphere. He also urged Egyptian businessmen to give more attention to the trade and products fairs held overseas. The President said that Egypt was playing a key role in the G-15 and the other world organisations it joins. "Egypt's role is prominent in all organisations and not only the G-15… "Egypt has a key role in different conferences. In the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), we usually submit proposals and opinions that are adopted," he said, adding that the G-1 5 summit adopted an Egyptian plan to convene a meeting of the group's central bank governors and chiefs to discuss means of avoiding any monetary crisis. He added that Egypt would host two G-15 summits in 1998 and 2000. Moreover, the Egyptian leader underscored the importance of introducing and boosting hi-tech industries in Egypt. "The world is racing and if we move slowly we will lag behind," he said. "We are looking for investments and want to encourage trade and introduce hi-tech, all to create jobs for our people and to increase our exports. If we do not develop ourselves and adopt the high technology, no one would buy our products," he said. He added, however, that the credits given to the Egyptian economic reforms should not divert Egypt's attention from attracting more investments. Asked about his visits to UAE and Sultan of Oman before and after attending the G-15 summit, President Mubarak said that Egypt had very good relations with the two countries and the rest of the Arab Gulf states. "UAE President Sheikh Zayed has many investments in Egypt. He helps us in Toshka and in many other agricultural fields," Mubarak said. About the Omani ruler Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, Mubarak said: "I will never forget Sultan Qaboos. When late President Sadat signed Camp David accord (for peace with Israel), Oman was the only Arab country to defend us and refuse the boycott." |
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