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Tuesday, November 11, 1997
On his way back home following a short visit to Saudia Arabia, President Mubarak told Egyptian pressmen that he had not raised the issue of the forthcoming Doha economic conference in any Arab country he had visited. "I only listened to the views of the Arab leaders I had met. Our decision is independent and we do not agree on anything against our interests," he said. On his way to Malaysia last week to attend the G-15 summit meetings, President Mubarak visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and made similar trips to Oman and Bahrain on his way back home. Egypt has said its participation in the Middle East and North Africa MENA IV conference hinges on substantial progress in the peace process. Palestinian-Israeli negotiating process has been in a deep crisis since last March when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave the go-ahead to the construction of a new Jewish settlement in the Arab East Jerusalem. Mubarak, meanwhile, disclosed he had sent a message, to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq following the eruption of the crisis with the US. In his message conveyed by Iraq's delegate to the Arab League, the Egyptian leader called on Saddam to defuse tension so as to head off possible difficulties which his country might experience as a result. Iraqi President's answer was that he had complied with the UN resolutions, and does not hide anything." Baghdad has been barring American members of the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM), in charge of dismantling Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, from entering the country. "Egypt's aim is to put an end the Iraqi people's ordeal. And the principle of force use is inappropriate," Mubarak said. "Egypt is keen not to see Iraq partitioned as much as it is interested in the territorial integrity of the Sudan or any other Arab country." He elaborated that Egypt was seeking to caution against the risks involved at the time when some observers see that the fabricated crisis in Iraq overshadows the collapse of peace process in the Middle East." Egypt, he added, held the view that Iraq had to comply with the Security Council resolutions in order to avoid further sanctions, and the use of force. I had also briefed King Fahd on the results of the G-15 summit, the discussions I had with leaders there as well as my talks in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain," Mubarak said. The Egyptian leader went into immediate talks with King Fahd upon his arrival at the Riyadh airport on his second visit to Saudi Arabia this year. Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah attended the talks, which also dealt with bilateral ties. " Egypt's relations with the US are good and deeply-rooted regardless of some superficial little differences," said Mubarak. He added no date has been yet set for a coming visit to the US. The Egyptian leader has been awarded honorary doctorates from three US universities of George Washington, Harvard, and St. Jones, in appreciation of his peace efforts. Mr. Mubarak said Palestinian President Yasser Arafat was frustrated over the negotiating situation with Israel which had reneged on previous accords. "In contrast, the former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin abided by every word he made," added the Egyptian leader. Arafat stated in Cairo on Saturday that around of Palestinian-Israeli talks in Washington last week achieved nothing. Mubarak said he would get a message from the Kuwaiti Emir Jaber Al-Ahmad when he meets Kuwait's foreign minister in Cairo on Saturday. Taking up the home scene, Mubarak told the accompanying newsmen he would meet next week with a number of ministers, chiefs of the country's banks, and the Capital Market Authority (CMA) as well as some businessmen to discuss the recent stock market turmoil in Asia and Latin America and decide on best ways to avoid similar crises in the future. He also ruled out any imminent Cabinet reshuffle Egypt had a limited shake-up a few months ago, with the reform-minded Kamal Al-Ganzouri keeping the premiership seat. Furthermore, Mubarak discussed with the key journalists a number of drafts to be debated at the People's Assembly, including one on housing, and another on labor. |
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