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Thursday, February 28, 2002
In his exclusive interview with the editor-in-chief of Al-Akhbar newspaper, President Hosni Mubarak spoke his mind concerning a number of issues of concern as follows: Q: Your Excellency’s visit to Washington comes at a hard time for the peace process, and there is no doubt that both Egyptian and international efforts go the same direction of trying to revive the peace process and returning back to the negotiating table. How would you discuss this issue with the Americans? And how do you expect US stance? A: I am not biased to any side. When I say that I am not this or that but with peace, I mean the necessity of returning the lands to their owners. There would be no peace unless lands are returned. We have to be honest about this. In a phone conversation with US President George Bush, I told him that I want to speak with you frankly and in detail. He replied, you might pay me a visit. So, I decided to visit Washington to explain to him, sincerely, the situation and how we would move because there must be a solution. Since the beginning of the peace process in 1977 by late President Anwar el-Sadat’s initiative, matters have never reached such a state of deterioration. This has never happened before. Now, we see innocent victims on both sides, Palestinians and Israelis. We see no political thought in Israel towards finding a solution to the problem. I stress that the use of military force will not solve the cause, any cause at all. More strikes would lead to reactions and retaliation. Thus, we will enter a malicious circle and the result will be claiming innocent lives and souls on both Israeli and Palestinian sides. It comes to my memory that an Israeli figure told, “ I am too terrified to get out of his home, to go to a restaurant, get on a bus or to go to shopping. I feel frightened while going to my work, so I prefer staying at home”. Is this logic? The Palestinians, who are surrounded by tanks, suffer the same thing. Innocent people are being killed on both sides. Politicians have to realize that this is not fair and that they are responsible for the blood being shed and the children being orphans and people being jobless. I have once watched, on TV, a Palestinian young man in videotape he recorded, before carrying out a suicide operation, telling his mother that he found no job and had no money. This means that he is desperate. He could not feed his mother, children or family. His life became bleak and this is the tragedy we live. Q: Mr. President, you have reiterated that despair and disappointment lead to violence! A: Though this is true, they used to get angry in Israel. Some Israelis, even in the their journalism, hold the same viewpoint. Q: We notice increasing criticism of Sharon in the Israeli journalism and many commentators there say that he failed and has no political standpoint. What do you think Mr. President? A: He has neither policy nor plan. This harms both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples. We want the region to live in peace and security. The Palestinian citizen is a human being, so is the Israeli citizen. I am confident that if politicians come up with a solution, there would be cooperation between the two peoples. Then, there would be no problem. Q: You always speak of close and strong relations with the US. What about those who are fishing in troubled water whether within the US administration or US journalism and media? A: Look, we have to expect all these. If Egypt were a weightless country that does not interfere in any thing, no one would say any thing about us. However, Egypt is a country with a role to play and an active policy in pursuit of peace in the region. Some do not like that, others want a “private peace” in favor of one side. We can’t accept such a thing. So, I believe that the US administration and our friends in the Congress understand the matter. During my visit, I am going to explain to them the whole issue because they get their information from only one party. In fact, Egyptian-US relations are excellent and there is a strategic cooperation in all domains. This doesn’t mean that there would not be some forces playing for their own interests. Yet, we are aware of all them. I think both US administration and our Congress friends are acquainted with everything. Q: US support of establishing the Palestinian State has had positive impacts on the Arab street. Nevertheless, US stance has changed a lot. How would US position be redirected for the benefit of the peace process and getting the parties back to the negotiating table? A: In his speech on September 19, 2001 Secretary of State, Collin Powel highlighted the US President’s support of establishing a Palestinian State. Then, US assigned a special envoy to the region, Anthony Zinni, to bridge viewpoints and to bring violence to the minimum with the aim of paving the way for implementing Tenet plan and Michel recommendations. This announcement would have been invested to realize the peace process a concrete breakthrough according to the US viewpoint. Nonetheless, Israel, through pre-planned provocative procedures, succeeded in pushing the Palestinians to commit suicide operations in concomitance with the visit of the US envoy. This has given US administration a wrong impression that the Palestinians aren’t serious about settlement. Israel abused that situation and tried to reshape US policy and steer it towards practicing more pressure on the Palestinians with a view to achieving political gains. I think US stance advocating the establishment of a Palestinian State has not changed, despite different viewpoints concerning the achievement of this goal. Recent developments proved that continuation of violence and counter-violence on the one hand and Israeli policies of blockade, demolition of Palestinian homes and assassination of activists, not to mention preventing Arafat from going outside Ramallah have complicated the situation and made settlement harder and harder. It is high time for the States to resume its effective role through its envoy who would work for putting an end to violence and go ahead with political settlement that is the only way for establishing the Palestinian State. Q: Mr. President, do you think there is hope in progress of the Palestinian-Israeli track in light of Sharon’s crippling conditions based on US support? A: There is no hope in the peace process in light of Sharon’s crippling conditions. Israel must show more flexibility and to create the opportunity for implementing Tenet plan and Michel recommendations. Even when Palestinian authorities arrested those accused of Israeli tourism minister, Rachvam Ze’evy, Israel kept the seige imposed on the Palestinian President till the accused get trailed. This means a new crippling condition. How could the Palestinian Authority enforce a week of one hundred percent non-violence or exert one-hundred-percent efforts to put an end to violence while its people are subject to siege, humiliation and disappointment day after day? How could the PA arrest wanted persons while it is besieged and Israel is systematically bombarding Palestinian prisons to the extent that the Palestinians themselves have assaulted Tolkerm jail and set free those the PA had arrested? How could the PA arrest suspected persons when it is totally surrounded after Israeli F16s and Apaches destroyed most of the Palestinian police and security facilities? I believe that in case Israel has sincere intention to realize peace, it has to ease these conditions and create the favorable climate for the PA to play its role. This would allow moving ahead towards settlement. Q: What is your Excellency’s explanation of the excessive use of force and hindering the implementation of Tenet peace plan and Michell’s recommendations? A: I have no explanation for Sharon’s insistence on the use of force and hindering the implementation of what has been agreed on, not to mention the absence of clear Israeli vision of peace with the Palestinians. As you know, the election campaign agenda of Israeli Prime Minister depended on guaranteeing security for the Israeli citizens. The question now is: did he succeeded in fulfilling that promise? On the contrary. All related statistics show that the numbers of the Israelis killed and injured under this government are gravely exceeding those under previous governments since the launching of the peace process. Israel is mistaken if it believes that escalating its military operations against the Palestinians would result in their submission. This would only lead to more violence and bloodshed, a matter that must be avoided by all means. We are against all forms of violence and shedding the blood of innocent people. However, there has to be a clear-cut vision that could bring about giving the Palestinian people its legitimate rights, atop of which is their right to establishing their sovereign independent state. This can only be achieved through moving on both security and political tracks in order to revive hope of the Palestinian people for the possibility of attaining its long sought rights as well as realizing security both Israeli and Palestinian peoples are longing for; besides ending bloodshed of innocent people on both sides. Q: Do you see current contacts between Israel and PA as a step towards correcting the deteriorating situation? And what about your contacts with the parties concerned in this regard? A: Certainly. Contacts between Israel and PA could ease the tension. So, we have always been working for opening dialogue channels between the two sides. Nevertheless, such dialogue must be made by authorized persons with the aim of reaching reciprocal commitments. It is unreasonable that each time Israelis and Palestinians meet and come up with results that may result in relieving the situation, Israel PM thwarts what was agreed upon and makes such meetings futile. Accordingly, it could have been useful for PM himself to hold a meeting with a number of Palestinian leaders after the invitation I extended to Israeli Defense Minister who came to Sharm El-Sheikh and we discussed the deteriorating situation. Also, I have sent to Israeli PM encouraging him to hold such meetings regularly for their expected positive impacts, stressing that Arafat is his sole partner in reaching peace. Again, I stress that political dialogue must be intensified concomitantly with security for making the Palestinian people feel that there is cooperation in the security fields leading to positive outcome at the political level. Q: Do you think, Mr. President that reiterated news on ousting Arafat can help pushing the peace process ahead? And, in your viewpoint, is Arafat the obstacle on the way of peace? A: Arafat is the legitimate elected President by the Palestinian people. He represents the only authority capable of negotiating with the Israeli government and convincing the Palestinian people to accept whatever may be agreed upon. Nonetheless, Arafat must be given full chance instead of besieging him at his office in Ramallah and asking him the impossible. Allegations of the Israeli government that Arafat has become an obstacle on the way of peace and its decisions of considering the PA pro-terrorism body are but attempts to ruin his authority and give implications that there is a more flexible new Palestinian leadership. This Israeli behavior would finally result in nothing but more hard-line Palestinian stances, violence and bloodshed. Q: What was the aim of Benjamin Ben Eliezer’s visit? Were there any positive results of that visit? And is it true that your Excellency asked him to transmit a message to Israeli PM? A: The visit of Israeli defense minister, Ben Eliezer aimed at opening direct contact channels with the Israeli leaders, especially in light of electing him head of Labor Party with which we have always maintained good relations. I was keen on coordinating with him with regard to the future of the peace process and the role he can play as a member of the Israeli government. Ben Eliezer was keen that his accompanying delegation includes a number of prominent Knesset members. It was favorable opportunity to have honest dialogue in which I explained how dangerous current stance of the Israeli government is. We have continuous contacts with all forces inside Israel, especially security experts and advisors with a view to influencing decision-making circles. In fact, it has not happened that I asked him to transmit a message to Israeli PM. I have sent Israeli PM a message, yet after that visit, in mid-February in response to a message he had sent me late January. In that message, I emphasized that Arafat is his only partner in the peace process and encouraged him to enter political dialogue with PA. I even offered to host a Palestinian-Israeli summit attended by Arafat and Sharon for putting an end to violence and counter violence and to hammer out the way for implementing Tenet Plan and Michelle’s recommendations and starting political dialogue aiming at establishing the Palestinian State. Q: Mr. President, what do you think of Prince Abdullah’s initiative of full recognition of Israel in return of its full withdrawal from all occupied Arab and Palestinian territories and ending its occupation of Islamic sites in Jerusalem? And, does it mean gathering Arab orientations towards peace in a way that prevent any deceit Israel and its pros may resort to for foiling the pace process? A: Declaration of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah stresses the unrelenting stance of Arab leaders that was agreed upon since the Arab Summit Conference, held in Cairo in June 1996. All Arab countries then declared adherence to peace with Israel if it returned all 1967 occupied territories and proved a true will to settle peace based on equal rights and duties. Although Israel knows of this stance, it insisted on ignoring it, believing that negotiation with Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese will yield a deal better than withdrawal. Israel is looking for a way out of the severe crisis it suffers at both domestic and foreign levels, and a lot of its people are killed as a result of violent operations against Palestine that are followed by retaliation operations. This is precisely why Israel showed interest in Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah’s stance as he clearly stated that he was thinking of forwarding his statements to the Arab Summit. But Israel escalated violent operations against the Palestinian people. This Israeli stance hampered the implementation of his intentions. We still adhere to peace, in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and in all Arab regions, as a strategic option. We are ready to share mutual commitments with Israel on condition that Israel withdraw to June-1967 borderlines. As for the negotiations with Saudi Arabia, there is no hope in a mid-way bargain because complete withdrawal simply leads to complete peace. More reinterpretations and explanations would be useless. If Israel has true and honest intentions to enter peace and realize security, Arab countries have a summit accord that reflects a similarly true and honest intention to enter such a peace commitment provided that its intentions are coupled with withdrawal. However, Israel tries to exploit the Saudi initiative. Prince Abdullah’s words perfectly agree with the Arab summit's decisions. It is important that Israel withdraws from the territories. However, they started to say:” let’s meet half way”. What “way”?!! There isn’t but one way that leads to peace. They’ve got to return land if Arab countries are to establish relations with them. In Egypt we don’t have a problem because we already have relations, but I hope peace prevails and stability spreads throughout the region. Q: Mr. President, it is well-known that the repercussions of the September 11th attacks on America had negative impacts on world economies generally and on the Egyptian foreign currency income specifically. What are the topics economic talks with America would discuss to overcome such a crisis as figured out in the White House statement on your visit to Washington? A: As a result of September 11th attacks, our economy suffered in many fields: tourism, transportation, insurance, Suez Canal among other things. Such a loss added up to more than three billion dollars which Egypt sought to get through receiving funds from our trade and economy partners. America was the first to instantly provide financial aid. It gave extra funding, transformed the whole funding programmes of the year 2002 to liquid money. It also proposed an exemption of frozen assets of this year and the previous ones under one condition, stepping up with previously agreed upon reform procedures. You have heard about transformation of 959 million dollars that were agreed upon in this deal. This deal reflects the power of our national economy and the effectiveness of economic reforms that are being carried out. We have obtained $ 10 billions donation, in Sharm-El Sheikh Conference of America, the donor countries and international organizations which would help us overcome our sudden crisis and promote our economic reform. As for Washington talks, trading and economic dealings between the two countries are highlighted through proposing a free-trade agreement, joining the American initiative to support African countries (AGOA) as well as targeting higher agricultural, materials and ceramics export rates to America. Moreover, we seek to attract more American investments to Egypt. We would also cooperate with US in the fields of national industry modernization. In other words, the economic agenda is as full as the political one. Q: There have been a number of decisive decisions for easing angry public opinion following the catastrophe of the Upper Egypt train. Are there more decisions to counter the overwhelming negligent attitudes and to insure citizen safety through new strategy of imposing order and discipline as well as a firm control over state organizations and the Egyptian street? A: As I mentioned previously in my statement to the people on the first day of Eid el-Adha, this catastrophe traumatized a number of families and blocked out the biram spirit. This is why thorough investigations were carried out and all those responsible for this calamity will be punished. There is deep concern about the safety of each and every Egyptian citizen. Meanwhile, the state's organizations will impose more discipline while carrying out its duties. Discipline will not only contain transportation means, it will expand to encompass all fields of services and thus reflects our refined values and civilization. All who will prove accountable will pay for it. The minister of transportation and others have left their posts. But we also ask citizens to help by not jumping from the windows when they face danger. That is not to mention that the Egyptian railways receive annual support of 600 million dollars. This train was over-crowded and around three quarters of its passengers didn’t book tickets. The ticket does not cost more than L.E. 4. The budget is limited and maintenance of locomotives was hampered. Some people suggest allocating more money to the railways budget, but on the expenses of which department? In fact, 600 million dollars are annually used to make the tickets low. There is no spot in the whole world that can provide a ticket for such a long distance as from Cairo to Luxor for less than one dollar! The government has to hold meetings with the People’s Assembly in order to consider all possible ways of improving services. Q: What about appointing a minister of transportations? A: After returning from the States. There is a deputy minister carrying out the ministry's tasks when the minister is not available. The minister of industry is in charge now. Q: You have advocated promotion of exportation as if it were a matter of life and death. What are the general statements that Your Excellency address to producers, consumers and the government? A: Exportation is no doubt a matter of life and death because it goes with establishing new industries, attracting new investments, creating job opportunities, and improving the standard of living. This is in addition to a number of benefits that would help improve our economy and reap the fruits of economic development. If I were to address the producers, my message would focus on giving attention to improve the quality of the Egyptian product that is displayed in markets abroad and inside Egypt in order to enable it to compete with other products of countries that may have similar circumstances. Also, there should be a concern to lower down prices and to earn unexaggerated profits in the framework of increasing the volume of selling and activating our market, not to mention, modernization of industry and skimming the benefits of latest technologies. Such steps are important to make our products desired and distinguished. As for the consumer, my message is, buy the Egyptian product in order to support our industry. This, of course, has to do with producers’ commitment to high quality and suitable prices so that both sides would benefit. My final message to the government is to cut down its expenses and to keep up its avid pursue towards modernization and development. Also, it should support producers and exports men by removing all obstacles that hinder reaching the global market as well as giving attention to the interest of the Egyptian consumer by watching for the quality of products and their prices. Such is the way for completing the economic development cycle that would prepare us to reach the well-deserved high pedestal in the world market. |
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