Oct  16, 2001

Mubarak renews support for anti-terrorism campaign

In an important interview to be published today by the US "Washington Post" President Mubarak has expressed his support for the campaign led by the United States against terrorism.

    The President warned against expanding the battle to include other countries in the Middle East.

    President Mubarak said maintaining stability in the region necessitates making headway in the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.

    He indicated that Egypt has offered many sacrifices for peace adding if Israel cooperated for achieving this end, this would contribute to maintaining stability in the region?

    The President said he urged US President George. Bush to support the establishment of the Palestinian State and to move ahead with the peace process.

    He said President Bush informed him before September 11 incidents that he supported the establishment of a Palestinian state, as he was interested in achieving stability in the Middle East region in the first rate.

    The President said if a progress was achieved in the peace process, terrorism would backtrack adding the US should balance between its anti-terror campaign and moving ahead with the peace process so that the public opinion may under stand the US stance.

    Answering a question, President Mubarak said Bin-Laden spoke only about Palestinians cause during the past few days and after he carried out his operation against the United States.

    The President said Bin Laden worked with the United States against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan adding after the end of war, Bin Laden worked in the field of drugs trade and made billions of this trade.

    On terrorism networks outside Afghanistan, the president said there are some groups in Europe and the United States where they are being apprehended at the present time, indicating that cooperation with the United States in the field of exchanging information is taking place daily.

    Answering a question on the reasons behind non-commitment by Egypt of troops in war against terrorism as was the case during Kuwait liberation war, President Mubarak said there is a joint defence pact among Arab countries that necessitate intervention in case any country was attacked, a condition which is not available in war against terrorism in Afghanistan.

    Answering a question on condemnation of suicide attacks in Egypt he said we are against killing innocents through suicide attacks indicating that some suicide bombings in Palestinian territories are motivated by besiege.

    He said so long as besiege is clamped blasts would continue. The President said feeling of injustice in dealing with Palestinian cause has contributed to creating many problems in this part of the world.