Egypt Pushes for Implementation of Roadmap

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, May 12, 2003

Egypt Pushes for Implementation of Roadmap

Egypt on Sunday pushed for the implementation of a roadmap peace plan envisioning a full Palestinian statehood by 2005.

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Egypt on Sunday pushed for the implementation of a roadmap peace plan envisioning a full Palestinian statehood by 2005.

"There is a need for Israel to stop daily provocation against the Palestinians in order to allow the implementation of the roadmap and pave the way for all parties to reach a durable and comprehensive peace in the Middle East," Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher told reporters.

Speaking at a joint press conference after talks with visiting EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Maher said the Israel's movehad claimed the lives of innocent Palestinians and runs counter to peace efforts.

The top Egyptian diplomat also tied Palestinian commitment to ceasefire and stopping martyrdom operations to ending incessant Israeli provocations against the Palestinians.

He said he had discussed with Solana the roadmap and ways to achieve peace in the region, stressing that Egypt will continue to pursue efforts with all parties to settle the Palestine issue.

"Egypt and the European Union see eye to eye on the roadmap, which provides a chance to proceed with the peace-making drive, setup an independent Palestinian state and press for an Israeli withdrawal from the rest of occupied Arab territories," he said.

Lauding the Palestinian acceptance of the roadmap without reservations, Maher urged Israel to reciprocate the Palestinian gesture.

"We want the two sides to abide by their obligations in parallelso as to make progress on the ground," he said.

On his part, Solana said the Palestinians have taken "important measures and sometimes difficult measures," including restructuringtheir government, in an effort to ease tensions on the ground.

He said the European Union would do its utmost to push forward the stalled Mideast peace process.

Solana arrived here earlier in the day as part of his Mideast trip, which will also take him to Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, thePalestinian territories, Syria and Lebanon.

On Monday, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will meet with Solana, who is due to confer with Arab League chief Amr Moussa on the latest Mideast situation the same day.

The roadmap, worked out by the Quartet Committee comprising the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, is termed as a fundamental solution to the 31 months of conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis.

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