Egyptian FM Calls for Quick Negotiation on Final SettlementEgyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa on Thursday, November 30, urged Israel to "quickly" re-start peace talks with the Palestinians on a final settlement.This was Egyptian first reaction to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's proposal on an interim accord with Palestinians. Moussa made the call at a joint press conference with his visiting Polish counterpart Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, who arrived here in the day for a one-day visit, following their two-hour talks, Egypt's official Middle East News Agency reported. He said that "without a solution to the problem of Jerusalem and the problem of Palestinian refugees there can be no end to the conflict" between the Israelis and Palestinians. Barak proposed an extended interim deal including the transfer of a further 10 percent of the West Bank to the Palestinians and recognition of an independent state, but putting off the issues of Jerusalem and refugees for up to three years. The proposal was rejected immediately by the Palestinians, who insisted on a final accord that settled all thorny issues in the final-status talks. "Any interim agreement is rejected completely," Palestinian officials said, reaffirming that they want a final deal under which an independent state will be established with east Jerusalem as its capital. Egypt has expressed on many occasions its support for the Palestinian stance. "We are at the stage of a final settlement, not a preparatory or interim stage," said Moussa, responding to Barak's proposal as the Jewish state is preparing for early elections forced on Barak on Tuesday. The Egyptian minister stressed that the revival of the peace talks must be under international resolutions, including the UN resolutions 242 and 338, and the land-for-peace principle. Moussa also dismissed as "not accurate" reports by Israeli media that Egypt was planning to host a summit meeting here between Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Barak. He said that Arafat refused to take part in a three-way meeting with Barak and U.S. President Bill Clinton in Washington. "We do not think that holding such a meeting will be useful," Moussa said, adding that it is important for the two sides to implement what they have agreed upon. Egypt is the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, but recalled its ambassador to Israel last week in protest against Israel's "escalating aggression" against the Palestinians, referring to Israel's quelling of Palestinian protesters. |
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