Jan.  19, 2002

President Hosni Mubarak on Thursday opened the 34th Cairo International Book Fair at the Nasr City exhibition grounds.

    He was greeted by Chairman of the Egyptian General Book Authority Samir Sarhan, besides senior state officials.

    Sarhan gave a briefing on the fair, its pavilions and the 92 countries participating this year.

    The President toured the various pavilions and then attended his customary annual dialogue with Egyptian writers, intellectuals and journalists on the domestic, regional and international issues.

    Mubarak urged the local media to bear the responsiblity in dealing with important issues such as the economic situation in Egypt, voicing his surprise at some articles in the press that have claimed Egypt was facing an economic crisis.

    Mubarak cited a report saying that the government earmarked some 15 million Egyptian pounds for calendar notebooks. Dismissing the report as incorrect, the President urged the media to be accurate in carrying reports because it could have a negative effect on the national economy and its image abroad.

    Speaking of the Egyptian pound value, President Mubarak said it was natural that currencies go upwards and downwards in the exchange market, adding that in light of free-market economy the Egyptian pound was not immune.

    However, this does not mean that we will leave things to non-calculated risks, Mubarak said, noting that the government was keen on regulating dealings at the exchange market through the central bank.

    The President said that he always follows up on Egypt's foreign currency reserve and exerts assiduous efforts to ensure sustainable, safe stocks that spare the country going through hardships.

    The President reaffirmed that he would not allow the Central Bank of Egypt (CIB) to drift into pumping dollars into the market at the expense of the national reserve, noting that the people should cooperate with the government so as to be able to face up to passing problems and issues in a manner marked by understanding and depth and free from any superficiality.

    Mubarak stressed that the conditions of the Egyptian citizens were his main preoccupation.

    This came in Mubarak's reply to queries by mediamen, writers and journalists.

    Mubarak said he starts his working day at seven in morning, contacts Cabinet Ministers on reports or news published about the citizens' conditions.

    Mubarak said he is keen on following up cultural forums and intellectual meetings broadcast by the Egyptian television.

    He said these meetings could be continued on a larger scale to explain facts about various economic and political issues.

    Mubarak referred to the economic achievements of Atef Sidqy's Cabinet and gradual improvement in Egyptian economy. These achievements were followed by serious deterioration in the economy policies as well as international politics.

    Mubarak wondered about reports of Egyptian imports of Ice Cream from an Arab country at L.E. 200 million! Mubarak highlighted that the quoted Arab country does not have that product at all. "At my question, I was told our imports are merely L.E. 18 million of this product."

    On the high tariff of textile imports, Mubarak said Egyptian press has been always calling for such a high rate of tariff.

    When the law was passed, the same papers criticized it as appropriate. He said he believed the wealthy people who can purchase foreign textile products have to pay high tariff that are used to help the poor". This is "Social Justice", he added.

    Speaking about his call for holding an international conference on combating terrorism, Mubarak said it was an inescapable move. "We should drop the issue of definitions, and we should speak in a realistic way to avoid future evils," the president added.

    On the issue of an Arab Common Market, Mubarak said "our economic future as an Arab nation hinges on our ability to set up that market which was declared in 1949 prior to the European Common Market."

    He noted that Egypt had free trade agreements with a number of Arab countries, but regretted that they still failed to rise to the aspired level or serve common interests.

    Meanwhile, Mubarak dismissed Israeli allegations that Egypt was smuggling weapons to the Palestinian Authority.

    Describing Egyptian-US relations as special, Mubarak said Israel wished to drive a wedge between Cairo and Washington so as to dominate the American stage. "But I will not allow this," Mubarak said.

    "Egypt exerts all possible efforts to solve the Palestinian problem and convince the Palestinians and Israelis to return to the negotiating table," Mubarak said.

    The President warned against any Israeli attempt to expel the Palestinians from their lands, saying that such a move would increase terrorism against Israel and all countries cooperating with it.

    Creating a Palestinian state will be in the interest of Israel and will protect its security, Mubarak averred.

    Describing those calling for removing Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat from power, as shortsighted Mubarak feared that in a post-Arafat Palestine, a vicious circle of violence against Israel might start, with Palestinian factions trying to practice the maximum degree of violence to gain the support of the Palestinian people.

    Mubarak voiced his surprise at Israel's confinement of Arafat to Ramallah, till he handed over the killers of Israeli Tourism minister Rehavam Ze'evi, wondering why the Jewish state did not catch the killers although it claimed it knew their whereabouts.

    On Mubarak's diary, he said I am preparing it as an eyewitness on some thorny issues.