Jan.  15, 2001

Palestinians will never Give up Sovereignty over Jerusalem

    Following are the highlights of Mubarak's remarks to MENA: - I doubt Palestinians and Israelis can reach a full settlement to their conflict before January 20. Current American efforts aim at a framework agreement that would be satisfactory to Israelis and acceptable to Palestinians.

    - Jerusalem, land, borders, refugees are issues that neither Arafat nor the Palestinian Authority can give up or bargain with.

    - Present proposals speak of restoring 92-96 percent of West Bank land to Palestinians and when the maps were reviewed, it was discovered that the matter was totally different, that Jerusalem and settlements were not taken into account into the percentage of the land that was to be recovered to Palestinians.

    - The treatment of matters with siege, killing and punitive measures leads to despair that could blow up with repercussions that would be very hard to calculate.

    - What Israel terms "preventive measures" are doomed to failure, their result is more violence and despair among Palestinians. Everything that goes beyond normal turns into the opposite.

    - Just political measures can lead to understanding and a just solution to the issue.

    - I have not contacted any Israeli leader in the election campaign. We do not interfere in the affairs of others and do not favour one party more than the other.

    - The language of war uttered by some Israelis is part of cheap election propaganda.

    - I met Sharon once in 1982, but I do know him through his unacceptable statements.

    - A change in the Israeli leadership is a matter of concern to the Israeli people, nevertheless, tension remains, whether with Netanyahu or Barak, we must wait and see.

    On Egyptian-American relations,President Mubarak said:

- I have congratulated the new American Administration, I know several of its members, such as Chiney and Powell. We will begin direct contacts with them immediately after the inauguration and their settling in office.

    - I hope the coming American Administration pursues efforts to reach a just peace so that the region may enjoy stability and security.

    - My way of dealing with the different American administrations is total frankness and my frankness is based on justice and rights. I know that all people do not like my frankness.

    - Egypt had long talks with the Administration of George Bush senior. The then-secretary of state James Baker came to visit us several times, we exchanged views with the participation of a number of brothers, among them late Syrian President Hafez al Assad, which led to the Madrid formula.

    - The current economic crisis is the result of former accumulations, and tampering with figures and data. We have begun to cure all the resulting "diseases". I would like to say frankly that the treatment requires a period of time, which is by no means short.

    - I am with the people, their worries are mine, and I work to solve their problems and alleviate their suffering.

    - As part of making life easier for the low-income brackets, the state subsidizes basic supplies, public transportation, railways, housing, medicines ... in addition to providing soft loans, medical insurance and social aid for students.

    - Cabinet reshffule has nothing to do with the new parliament. It is linked to the President’s new term. For me, the rule is whoever works continues, and anyone who does not work will have no place in the government.

    - Unreasonable change means a new beginning with every new Prime Minister, leading us ultimately to a standstill, with every new cabinet chief starting from scratch.

    - What I do care about is the government performance as demonstrated by correct data not marred by deceit, and the kind of work which serves the people and develops the nation.

    - When we say corruption is found everywhere in the world, we do not mean to defend or protect it. Rather, we aim at avoiding an exaggerated self-criticism. I would like to stress that we track down the corrupted and punish them, as there is no place among us for such people.

    - The majority of businessmen work hard and honestly. Only a few of them stole some money and ran abroad: those are being tracked down and will stand trial. We help those unable to settle their financial obligations, but never drop their debts.

    - No one is pressurizing us, and no one can. Neither do we pressurize anyone: we just work for the public good, we work to give everyone his or her rights and uphold justice.

    Answering a query on his assessment of the Middle East situation and the serious stage of the Palestinian-Israeli struggle, President Mubarak deplored that some parties thought that Egypt could pressurize the Palestinians to accept what Israel wanted.

    Agreements, that are signed through pressure, do not lead to a fair and lasting peace. We did not and would not pressurize the Palestinians to do anything against their rights and interests, the President stressed.

    The convocation of the Sharm el-sheikh summit came upon the request of the Palestinians, he said. Egypt is always ready to meet the Palestinian demands and offer them the assistance they want, he added.

    Asked about the war language of some Israeli leaders, the President noted that talk of war and threats should not be resorted to by any Israeli official. We know that such talk is part of the election campaigns but even if it is meant for local consumption, it is considered as cheap talk, he said. It is no longer possible to separate between domestic and foreign events as anyone nowadays sees and listens to what is going on everywhere, President Mubarak said adding that the result is lack of confidence and a prevailing apprehension, as well as poisoning the climate of the region.

    Asked whether contacts are being made with the Israelis amid the current violence and stalemate in the Middle East peace process, Mubarak said he never stopped working to reach a comprehensive, permanent and just peace, nor did he stop consulting with all parties.

    During Sharm el-Sheikh Summit, attended by US President Bill Clinton, UN Secretary-General Koki Annan and EU representative Javier Solana, we reached a resolution and understanding, the President said. However, there is still the main problem: the Israelis do not implement agreements, and try to blame the Palestinians if they ask them to do so, he added.

    I already warned of possible violence, and that there were sacred causes which peoples could never give up, and referred to the issues of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees in particular, Mubarak said.

    But nobody took the matter seriously enough, and my words have been proven right by the subsequent events, he added.

    On his contacts with the new US Administration, President Mubarak said he would go and meet with the new US Administration members when they are settled in office.

    Queried about whether he expects President-elect George W. Bush to have the same interest in solving the Middle East problem as Clinton, the President said we should not pre-empt events.

    President Mubarak, however, was hopeful that the new American Administration would resume the quest for peace: a fair, just and lasting peace until the conditions in the "important" Middle East region would become stable.

    The President stressed that nobody would live in security or stability without the return of the Palestinian rights.

    President Mubarak noted that the violence in the Palestinian territories was sparked by hawkish opposition leader Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Aqsa Mosque. Sharon provoked people, then the Israelis imposed embargo and used violence, he added.

    Asked whether Arafat's repeated visits to Cairo were necessary, President Mubarak said the Palestinian leader simply comes to brief him on all the developments, and of the contacts he makes.

    President Arafat exchanges views with us. We listen to him and he listens to us, which is important, President Mubarak said, adding that he offered the Palestinian President advice but never imposed any opinion on him.

    On whether violence being perpetrated against the Palestinian had a negative effect on Arafat's morale, President Mubarak said "the man is in high spirits".

    The Palestinian leader is vigorously looking for the means to achieve a decent kind of living for his people and restore their rights, he added.

    The President, however, maintained that Arafat was in an extremely difficult position, but he cannot at the same time accept what was offered to him by the Israelis.

    On the prospects for ending the present economic crisis in Egypt, President Mubarak said he is following up the matter himself, adding that the situation is not an easy one.

    The government’s obligations are increasing, the population number is on the rise, and a solution must be found for this difficult formula, he noted.

    We have already begun to take moves to that end, he said, referring to an all-inclusive tax-reform plan, and a program aimed to increase resources, which were both being studied by the government.

    Queried about obstacles on the way of holding the Arab Summit on a regular basis, President Mubarak said the Arab leaders decided to hold the summit every year during the October Arab summit held in Cairo, and the next conference will be held in Amman in March as scheduled.

    As for the outstanding sensitive issues, I am sure the Arab leaders will deal with them quietly and wisely to ensure the success of the summit and its periodical convening, he added.

    On the reason why he has not visited Russia for more than half a decade although Moscow seems to be ready for playing a more active role in the peace process, president Mubarak said former Russian President Boris Yeltsin had been planning to visit Cairo, but was unable to do so for health reasons.

    Now, we have good relations with President Vladimir Putin, and he has been willing to come to Egypt since he assumed power, but some circumstances prevented him, President Mubarak said, adding that the Russian leader would be Egypt’s guest in the Spring.