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Monday, March 27, 2000
President Hosni Mubarak on Monday urged Israel to return the annexed Golan Heights to Syria to cement a peace agreement, saying slain Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was ready to do so. "He told me personally -- I didn't release it at that time -- that he is ready to give back the Golan Heights, but he would like to know what is he going to take back in return," Mubarak told CNN on Monday during a visit to Washington. As the first Arab State to make peace with Israel, Egypt has tried to serve as a broker between Israel and Syria's President Hafez al-Assad. "So I asked him, 'What do you want to take back in return?' He told me exactly like this -- open borders, diplomatic relations, security measures and all these things, exchanging ambassadors," Mubarak said. "When I tackled this problem with President Assad, he didn't say no." Mubarak said he told Barak that because of the political realities in Syria, Assad could not agree to give up territory to the Israelis. "I think if Barak, or if Israel, really wants peace and wants to solve this problem, you should make sure that they are going to give back all the occupied territory as Rabin promised them before," Mubarak said. "I think if Barak, or if Israel, really wants peace and wants to solve this problem, you should make sure that they are going to give back all the occupied territory as Rabin promised them before," Mubarak said. On the possibility of establishing a Palestinian State recognized by world countries, President Mubarak asserted that there would surely be a Palestinian State. "Establishing a Palestinian State will be vital for Israel which would then be dealing with one administration representing a State instead of different groups," Mubarak said. President Mubarak described the Palestinian State as very important for Israel’s security. Asked of his view, as an ex-pilot, of the cause behind the crash of Egypt Air flight 990, which plunged into the Atlantic Ocean off US eastern coasts on October 31, 1999, Mubarak said he does not want to interfere in the case until relevant probes conclude. On the 19-year-old emergency law, which was recently extended for three more years, Mubarak recalled that the state of emergency had been in force in Egypt since the 1952 revolution. Mubarak asserted, however, that the law is only being enforced to combat terrorism. Mubarak concluded his interview with the all-news network by pledging to continue peacemaking efforts, pursue his economic reform program and endeavor to raise Egyptians' living standards. |
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