Sunday, January 13, 2002

January 13, 2002 Mubarak’s address to Third Field Army




President Hosni Mubarak warned against the danger of being biased to one party in the Middle East issue or supporting one party at the expense of the other.

The President said he was committed to the principle of full frankness and clarity and throwing light on all aspects in this respect.

Addressing officers and men of the third field army at their headquarters at a ground area in Suez, President Mubarak said that US President George Bush, as president of the biggest country in the world, means what he says.

President Mubarak was referring to what President Bush said about the establishment of a Palestinian State.

The same applied to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the President said. Both (Bush and Blair) seek to realise what they say "but we know that there are several influences on the American and British decisions.

"We know these influences and we know their sources and their impact".

The President said he dealt with these effects in several meetings he held with members of the US Congress in the past days and with representatives of Jewish organizations.

Minister of Information Safwat AL Sherif said that President Mubarak stressed that contacts were continuing with the US administration to explain Egypt's point of view in all frankness and clarity.

Safwat Al Sherif said that President Mubarak stressed that all want a Palestinian State side by side with the Israeli state.

There is a conviction that when the two states exist they will cooperate with each other.

President Mubarak called for peace that leads to stability. "We side with this peace.

There will be no peace unless every one gets his legitimate and just right.

The President said that the biggest guarantee for Israel and its stability is when a Palestinian State is set up with its elements and responsibilities.

"We can deal with it on correct, sound and secure bases.

Israeli allegations are baseless

President Mubarak referred to Egypt's attitudes and its adherence to take the side of right. This subjected Egypt to Israeli allegations and various unfounded campaigns.

"But I do not give attention to this and I do not open dialogue about these allegations."

The President added that Israel's resort to force will not solve the issue and will not raise security or stability.

"If Israel imagines that continuing pressure and violence will succeed in expelling the Palestinians outside their land, I stressed that this is completely wrong.

The President added: "the Palestinians will not keep silent. They shall not accept this".

The problem will increase and the cycles of violence shall become wider.

Sharon does not honour promises

President Mubarak regretted that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon does not fulfill any promise about going forward on the road of peace.

The President said that no progress would be made under Sharon 's policies.

President Mubarak wondered that Sharon forgot all the promises he made. The President added: "We shall continue our efforts because we want peace and stability. this will be realized only when every party gains its legitimate rights."

Safwat AL Sherif said that President Mubarak referred to efforts being exerted by Egypt.

The President has sent to US President Bush 11 messages in which he underlined that it was important that the United States makes utmost effort to calm the situation and stop Israeli military operations in occupied Palestinian territories.

President Bush responded and dispatched US Secretary of State Colin Powell and also sent two envoys (Burns and Zinni).

President Mubarak pointed out that the American envoy (Zinni) returned to the area to continue efforts aimed at calming the situation and resuming dialogue.

My advice was that it was impossible to strike at terrorism in Afghanistan and at the same time violence and killing continues against the Palestinians, the President said. "The Arab citizen does not accept this."

President Mubarak regretted that Sharon understands only the language of destruction and imagines that this will make the Palestinians submit.

"This is an illusion. The Palestinians will not submit even If they kept silent for a while.

President Mubarak underlined that resistance and defending land are not terrorism.

Resistance and what takes place in Palestinian territories cannot be compared to what is taking place in Afghanistan.

Discussing relations with Nile basin countries and a possible strike against Somalia, President Mubarak said: "We have strong relations with all Nile basin countries".

He pointed out that Somalia continued to suffer from differences among its political forces. "We hope that the Somali President will succeed in closing ranks."

President Mubarak doubted that military strikes would be directed against Arab countries.

"There is no confirmed evidence that elements of AL Qaida network had taken refuge or fled to other areas or other countries.

The Yemeni President has stressed that there are no elements from AL Qaida network inside Yemen.

Directing any strikes against any Arab country would be serious and would have wide repercussions.

President Mubarak pointed out that US Secretary of State Colin Powell declared that there was no intention to take military action against Iraq.

The President hoped that Iraq would carry out UN resolutions in order not to give any chance that might be used against it.

Terrorism

Discussing the issue of combating terrorism, President Mubarak pointed out that when the United States and other countries began to pursue and drive terrorists out of Afghanistan and it was raised that Afghanistan harbored terrorists who had left their countries "We had announced before that terrorists were committing crimes against peoples and countries and that terrorists were taking refuge in Afghanistan.

We said it was wrong that any country harbor fugitive elements which had committed crimes."

The President added: "If this advice had been taken heed of when I said that terrorism had no country or religion and that no asylum should be given to terrorists and these elements should be handed over so that sentences passed against them could be carried out, we would not have arrived at what we are facing today."

President Mubarak said "I cannot say with certainty who committed the events of September 11. This will be left to history. But this does not mean that I acquit a specific perrson. Egypt's position is clear. We are the first to fight terrorism. We are against any act of terrorism and we condemn all forms of terrorism."

Economic Situation

As regards the economic situation in Egypt, President Mubarak said all world countries, big and small - were subjected, before the events of September 11, to economic shake-ups.

This had its impact and it widened after September 11. We are part of the world. We are directly affected by developments of world economy.

Egypt too deals with an economic reality that needs a remedy. The correct beginning is to define the causes and deal with the mistakes that led to the economic problem.

"What is important is that we are on the right course to deal with the economic issues the effects of which will disappear gradually," the President said.

It was wrong to imagine that reform can be done overnight, he added. Economic reform issues take some time. But there is no fear so long as we watch and follow the movement of economy and hold the reins. We thank God that matters are regaining their healthy nature.

President Mubarak explained that there was no doubt that the events of September 11 had a big impact on some economic aspects, foremost among which is tourism hotels, manpower, or income in hard currency. But developments in recent days indicate that tourist activity is returning gradually.

Safwat Al Sharif said that as regards Port Said as a free zone, President Mubarak pointed out that with the execution of stages of the GATT agreement which opens the door before the entry of ready-to-wear garments into Egypt, it was important and necessary to lay down accurate specifications of the kind of imported commodities in addition to the necessary guidelines.

This necessitated reducing import quotas of Port Said as a free zone over five years after which it will become an Egyptian port in the area. The government will present a bill to the People's Assembly in this respect.

The government is planning in five years for complete development in several spheres and on several aces in the governorates.

As regards what was raised by Israeli media about the American "harpoon" missiles for Egypt, President Mubarak said that we have bean accustomed to what is raised about this.

Whenever there is an arms deal for Egypt, voices are raised and pressures are applied. But the matter is clear before the American administration.

President Mubarak said that he had made it clear to Congressmen that they would take the appropriate decision that realizes balance and the interest that binds Egypt with the United States.

"We do not get involved in press campaigns which are waged about this issue which is taken as a pretext to attack Egypt," the President said.

He pointed out that the Egyptian press enjoys the same freedom enjoyed in other democratic countries.

The President expressed surprise at labelling the Egyptian press as government press.

This is over; Egyptian newspapers National, Party or independent are open before all views and express all political forces.

Nobody has the right or can interfere in press affairs or press freedom that is protected by the constitution and law.

National conscience governs the relationship of the press with the state, the President said.

Safwat AL Sherif said that as regards the issue of Jerusalem, President Mubarak made it clear that Jerusalem is "the issue of all issues". It is the main problem.

He pointed out that east Jerusalem is part of the Arab territories that were occupied in 1967.

President Mubarak drew the attention to the fact that during the Camp David II talks, he told former US President Bill Clinton that he could not dictate on the Palestinians any decision regarding Jerusalem.

Palestinian President Arafat is responsible for the decision he takes before his people. No Arab or Muslim leader not even a single Arab citizen would accept Israel sovereignty over AL Haram Al Sharif, Arafat has no power and cannot accept this.

Free Egypt is our Goal

President Mubarak stressed that all decisions he takes aim at serving Egypt's higher interests. He takes into consideration preserving this nation.

His decision is rational and is taken according to accurate calculation. Nobody can affect his decision or get Egypt involved by making it take a decision which it does not agree to or which affects the interests of the people.

The President added: "My greatest concern is to work for Egypt. For this end I spare no efforts so that we may live in dignity and do not lag behind the march of progress.

Our goal is always free Egypt, modern and strong Egypt. I give attention to all young and old I care for the child, woman, youth and the elderly. We seek to establish right and justice. We do not accept to cover up any deviation or corruption ".

President Mubarak greeted the armed forces on the New Year, expressing hope that 2002 will be a year of prosperity, peace and progress for Egypt a year of stability and peace for the Arab world and the entire world.

The president said he was always keen to meet members of the armed forces and expressed his appreciation and respect of the armed forces and appreciates their role in protecting the nation and defending national soil.

He said: "I have graduated and learned in the armed forces, I gained all the experience which enabled me to assume responsibility as President of the Republic and shoulder difficulties all these years."
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