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Saturday, October 12, 1996
President Hosni Mubarak today welcomed, the European role in the Middle East peace process, a matter which comes in coordination with the United States, he said. The European role is an active one, he told the press at the Sixth of October city today. Europe is the main donor of the Palestinians, but also holds a share of 70 percent of Israel's foreign trade, he added. He said Europe played a big role, but that is no substitute of the American role, which he described as pivotal. On Israeli charges that the Egyptian press harmed relations between the two countries which led Israeli Minister of Infrastructure Ariel Sharon to postpone his visit to Egypt, President Mubarak said that there was no set date for Sharon's visit to Cairo. The president added that " The Egyptian press enjoys complete freedom like the Israeli press which also attacks Egypt". President Mubarak said he could not put a muzzle on the press to force it to keep silent. The law and Constitution did not give him the right to restrict the freedom of the press, but he said he appealed to the press not to adopt inappropriate expressions, he said. President Mubarak said he could not predict the outcome of the Palestinian - Israeli negotiations in Taba that are to begin in two days. Asked whether he had specific points that he would raise with Israeli President Ezer Weizman when he visits Cairo, President Mubarak said that they would discuss the Palestinian issue, what could be done about it and Egypt's stance in this regard. Egypt does not want concessions from Israel, but desires that peace is established in the region, which is the main objective, President Mubarak said in response to a query on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent interview. Concessions should be made between Palestinians and Israelis, he said. But we want Israel to agree with Palestinians and implement the previously signed agreements, he added. Egypt wants peace between Palestinians and Israelis to materialize, that Palestinians attain their rights, and that peace between Israelis and Syrians is established, President Mubarak said. Egypt wants peace to reign in the region so that it can channel its efforts towards development and the service of its people, he added. Asked whether Israel would be invited to the Economic conference in Cairo on November 12, despite the stalled peace talks, President Mubarak said the Conference is one issue and the stalled talks is another. Israel is responsible for the stalemate, he added. |
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