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Tuesday, February 20, 2001
Prime Minister Giuliano Amato underlined the importance of an active European role in the Middle East peace process. In a joint press conference with President Hosni Mubarak late Monday, Amato stressed that it is important for the Palestinians and Israelis to accept the European role in the process. He noted that Europe has started contributing to the Middle East peacemaking efforts since last summer. On his part, President Mubarak underlined the importance of waiting until the formation of the new Israeli government. Mubarak described as irrational Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon's demand for a halt of violence ahead of launching negotiations. He lashed out at statements made by an Israeli Knesset member in which he renewed threats of striking the High Dam, asserting that such statements do not serve the peace process. The 1967 war will not happen again, Mubarak averred, making it clear that any war would be a catastrophe for both peoples. Mubarak demanded an immediate stop of such statements, branding them as provocative of the Arab and Egyptian public opinions. “The Palestinians people has become desperate as a result of the Israeli siege and the strangling economic situation," said Mubarak. "The coming Israeli government should be able to evaluate the situation putting into consideration Palestinian frustration," Mubarak reaffirmed. Amato admitted, on his part, the weakness of the European role, referring to the Israeli opposition of such a role which is deemed by the Jewish state as pro-Palestinian. Amato make it clear that Italy can not act on its own but rather through the European union. He underlined, at the same time, the importance of a European role especially in the economic and development domains. The Italian premier called for easing the heavy burden of debts for poor and medium-income countries. At the beginning of the conference, President Mubarak invited Amato to visit Egypt. The Prime Minister promised to visit Egypt's soon as possible. Asked about Europe's harboring of terrorists, President Mubarak said that these terrorists are already living in Europe, cautioning that they might turn into a problem for the host European countries themselves. Mubarak called for an all-out cooperation in the field of terrorism-combat, describing it as a universal problem which would terribly backfire on all countries. It is too early to judge the new US administration, Mubarak said, adding that the Bush Administration would do its best to achieve peace in the middle east to serve its interests. President Mubarak underlined that Egypt honors its agreements, cautioning, at the same time, against pro-war calls that infuriate Arab and Islamic public opinions which, in turn, lay pressures on leaders. The Egyptian President warned of the Palestinian frustration, referring to the Tel Aviv bus attack which killed nine Israelis, describing the attacker as one of many ``desperate``Palestinians. Asked about providing aid to developing countries, an issue to be addressed by the coming meeting of the g-7, and Egypt's share, Amato said the meeting would focus on fighting poverty with special emphasis on writing off the poor countries` debts. “Egypt is not a poor country but combating poverty even in medium-income countries would be tackled by the G-7 summit,” said Amato. As for Egypt, there is the Euro-Mediterranean partnership program, said Amato, asserting that more tangible outcome would be achieved in the bilateral relations arena. He praised Egyptian-Italian cultural ties as very good, adding that the two countries agreed to declare 2003 as year for the Egyptian-Italian culture. Amato said that world issues, especially Middle East ones, topped the agenda of his talks with President Mubarak. Talks focused, mainly, on bilateral economic cooperation, said the premier, adding that Italian investments in Egypt are on the rise. |
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