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Thursday, November 15, 2001
President Hosni Mubarak said on Wednesday that Egypt is proceeding with its plans for peace and development. In press statements on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Ferdan Railway Bridge in Ismailia Mubarak said: ``We are no war advocates`` as long as no one attacks our land. President Mubarak said that he wants to tell those in Israel, like Lieberman and others and who cast doubt on the peace with Egypt that Cairo is pursuing the path of peace and development. "Egypt is building bridges" which cost millions of pounds not to be attacked or pounded, he said. This is a proof enough that we are pursuing peace for, only when we are attacked that we take up arms, he said. In reply to a question on some economic amendments to increase exports, the President said changes are always made to focus on exportation. He added that instead of an economy and foreign trade ministry there will be a commerce ministry that will basically pay attention to exportation and the economy ministry will be a ministry for foreign trade. He added that this change is still under consideration. President Mubarak was asked about the BOT system and said that he has some reservation on the system. The President added that the system should help us increase our exports and what happened in sidi Krir should not be repeated. The President said those firms which carry out projects with the Bot system must bring their capital from outside and they should not borrow from our own banks. He added we must work to ease the burden of interests on the coming generations and we must work to export to the European markets to increase exports. President Mubarak spoke of certain negative experience involving banks and said that one borrows from the banks and then flees the country will never be repeated. Asked about the government drawn project to find jobs for youths he said that this project still holds., we are also trying to create job opportunities for the youths outside the framework of this project, he added. Asked whether Ferdan will be one step towards completing the Orient Express Line' President Mubarak said we should not be short-sighted when we think of this orient express for any new orient express should reach al Arish and Rafah. Later on when peace is established between Israel and its neighbours it might reach Istanbul and the entire Orient Express Line be re-operated, he added. This shows how much Egypt is keen on peace, he said. Asked about the Middle East peace process and contradicting US statements which turned to be mere appeasing words to canvass support to fight terrorism, President Mubarak said solving the Middle East conflict is the core of solving many crises and unless this issue is solved the situation will remain as it is. Israel is accumulating US-made weapons, said the President wondering until when the US will supply Israel with weapons at a time when the neighbouring countries are standing tight-handed. President Mubarak said that he was not supporting one side at the expense of the other. Rather, I support peace and stability to maintain development, he noted. President Mubarak said at a time when Israel is getting arms from the US other countries would have other sources for obtaining weapons that would affect the whole region. Answering a question by MENA on what the situation would be like in Afghanistan in light of the opposition Northern Alliance entering Kabul, and the US demand for Islamic countries participation with forces there, President Mubarak said that ``this reminds us of events of the past when some people went to Afghanistan as Mujahideen ``strugglers`` and then came back as terrorists.`` President Mubarak expressed belief that in case the U.S. wanted to have peace-keeping forces in Afghanistan, this should not be obligatory. It is better to have these forces from Far Eastern Islamic countries, president Mubarak pointed out. Answering another question on what would be the state of affairs after the fall of Kabul, president Mubarak said that he did not know the plans of the US on this score. He expressed belief, however, that after capturing Kabul, a coalition government should be formed to prevent fighting among different factions. Answering another question about a proposal set forth by French President Jacques Chirac at the joint press conference during a recent visit to Cairo on forming a new negotiating table for the Middle East peace parties with participation of regional and international sides, President Mubarak said ``we agree to any proposal that would lead to solving the problem. Answering another question on President Chirac's talks with US president George Bush and whether Washington was willing to hold a new international conference, president Mubarak said that President Bush did not object during his talks with President Chirac on having such a conference with Russia participating. President Mubarak said backtracking on Madrid-1 and starting another Madrid-2 conference means destroying the peace process principles, a state of affairs which Israel would welcome. |
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