Apr. 27, 2001

Mubarak addresses the Duma

President Hosni Mubarak paid a visit today to the Duma (Russian Parliament), where he delivered a speech and had meetings with some MPs.

    In his address to the Duma, the President expressed keenness to promote relations with Russia in all fields.

    Mubarak commended the pioneering role played by Russia in support of Arab negotiators in the Middle East peace process, adding this support is based on international legitimacy.

    “This role is not strange to Russia, which became one of the peace process sponsors thanks to its intensive efforts,” said President Mubarak.

    “The Middle East peace process is passing through a crucial turning point because of Israel’s excessive use of violence against Palestinians, Israeli shelling of the Syrian forces in the Lebanese Beq`aa and Israel’s attempts to dodge implementation of signed agreements and understandings,” said President Mubarak.

    The Egyptian leader was hopeful Russia would play, with the us and the European Union, a pivotal role in pressing Israel into changing its aggressive attitude.

    “The only thing the Israeli attitude could bring about more violence and terrorist operations in all areas,” said Mubarak.

    President Mubarak said that Egypt and Jordan, motivated by a keen desire to work out a solution for the current logjam satisfactory to all parties, staged a joint peace initiative based on reviving negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis through security, political and economic committees that would run parallel to each other.

    “The joint overture takes as its terms of reference the previous agreements and understandings, especially what has been agreed upon in Sharm el-Sheikh in 1999 and 2000,” he added.

    The Egyptian leader expressed conviction that progress on the security arena would be impossible unless Palestinians and Israelis abide by their political and economic pledges.

    “We hope efforts would be mobilized to re-start the proposed negotiations as soon as possible before events accelerate in a way that would make it difficult to control them,” said President Mubarak.

    He stressed that the Israeli government should rein in irresponsible statements by some of the its members for purposes that have nothing to do with the peace process.

    Mubarak lauded Egyptian-Russian bilateral relations on the political domain, expressing hope for further cooperation in the trade, economic and investments fields.

    The Egyptian leader voiced deep appreciation for the wise policies of President Vladimir Putin, the major importance he is according to Russia’s friends in the Middle East and his increasing interest in a peaceful solution to the Middle East conflict.

    Mubarak said leaders of the region and himself are interested in creating the necessary economic and political atmosphere to enable Russia to play its instrumental role on the international scene.