Apr  5, 2001

Mubarak to Arab, Jewish American leaders: ME should not remain a region of tension, conflict

    At his meeting with members of the Arab and Jewish communities late Wednesday, Mubarak underlined the need for both parties to work together for terminating violence and resuming negotiations. Mubarak stressed that he does not defend a certain party but advocates peace and stability in the Middle East, highlighting Palestinian despair due to continuous Israeli blockade. "The Palestinians find it hard to get food and medicine and they are not able to send their children to schools," said Mubarak. Asked about difference between Former President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush concerning the Middle East, Mubarak said that he had worked with Clinton and respects him. He noted that he spoke by phone with Clinton on Tuesday. Mubarak said that he knows Bush and is willing to cooperate on a possible US role in the process; Mubarak said that the US has been the key player in the process not the UN. He added that Bush informed him of his determination to pursue ahead with efforts for peace and stability. Asked about the so-called Egyptian-Israeli peace and why he has not visited Israel yet, Mubarak said he has not visited all world countries. He pointed out that he had visited Israel twice, once with the late Egyptian President Anwar EL Sadat and the second attend funeral of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Mubarak pointed out that he was about to visit Israel twice during Rabin's premiership but that was aborted due to Rabin's death. The President said that raising the issue makes him skeptical. He added that when time of his visit to the US usually draws near, he hears many rumors of which he does not care. On dealing with the Iraqi issue, Mubarak said that he had discussed the issue with US State Secretary Colin Powell and underlined the need to find new ways to ease the Iraqi people's sufferings. Mubarak asserted his rejection to regional countries' possession of weapons of mass destruction, including Israel. He noted that the US is currently addressing new suggestions on Iraq. Mubarak voiced hope that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon would take steps forward. He added that he felt Sharon could do something and that he prefers to wait and see. On possible Middle East peace role by US Arabs and Jews, Mubarak said that they understand the facts and instead of levering accusations and criticism, everybody should help push the peace process forward. Mubarak was highly applauded when he walked into the joint meeting, the first ever with an Arab leader. More than 40 community leaders, diplomats and large numbers of research center representatives and experts concerned with the Middle East attended the meeting.