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Mubarak Says Efforts Underway for Palestinian-Israeli Peace
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said on Tuesday that all parties are now trying their best to help the Palestinians and Israel find a final solution to their decades-old conflict.
"We are trying to do our best to find a solution, we are meeting for consultations to help the two parties to reach a framework," Mubarak said before sitting down for talks with United States President Bill Clinton.
Clinton arrived in Cairo Tuesday morning for a brief visit at the end of his three-day African tour, which had also taken him to Nigeria and Tanzania
"That is very important before September, and we hope we can achieve that," added Mubarak. Mubarak, a major mediator in the Mideast and believed having great influence over the Palestinian side, has been contacting with all parties to try to bring the Palestinians and Israel together.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat frequently visits Cairo for consultation with Mubarak over positions in the talks with Israel.
The Palestinians and Israel have set September 13 as the deadline for a permanent peace deal, but the stands of two sides over some key final-status issues are far apart for now.
The most sticking point in the talks is the status of Jerusalem, which both Israel and the Palestinians claim as their capital.
"The time is short to resolve the thorny issues" in the peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel, said Clinton.
"I think all the parties understand this. So we are working together to try to seek ways to help the parties get over the big hump," he said.
Clinton has left Cairo after the brief meeting at Cairo International Airport's presidential lounge.
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