Mubarak Hopes Israeli Cabinet could Approve Roadmap

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, May 25, 2003

Mubarak Hopes Israeli Cabinet could Approve Roadmap

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday expressed his hope that the Israeli cabinet could approve a roadmap peace plan aimed at ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

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Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday expressed his hope that the Israeli cabinet could approve a roadmap peace plan aimed at ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

"The United States is serious about helping put into force the roadmap," Mubarak told a joint press conference with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi after their talks.

The Egyptian leader also quoted US Secretary of State Colin Powell as saying that the United States will press for the implementation of the peace plan without any changes.

Speaking to reporters in the French capital of Paris on Friday, Powell said US officials "are not planning on making any changes" to the roadmap, though the United States could address Israeli concerns about the blueprint.

On the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he was ready to accept the internationally-drafted blueprint and would present it to the cabinet for approval on Sunday.

"The prime minister says that the State of Israel is ready to accept the steps which are outlined in the roadmap and it will be presented to the government for approval," Sharon's Office said in a statement.

The roadmap, worked out by the Quartet Committee comprising the United States, United Nations, Russia and the European Union, envisions a full Palestinian statehood by 2005.

Under the roadmap, the Palestinians are supposed to curb anti-Israel attacks and cooperate with Israel in security affairs.

Meanwhile, Israel is required to halt all settlement activities and pull back from the Palestinian lands re-occupied since the start of intifada, or uprising, in September 2000.

The Japanese prime minister arrived here from the United States earlier in the day for a two-day visit to Egypt, and will travel to Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Abdullah, the kingdom's de facto ruler.

Japanese media reported that during his Middle East visit, Koizumi is expected to focus on Iraq's reconstruction and bilateral ties with Egypt and Saudi Arabia to secure stable supplies of crude oil.

"I discussed with the prime minister a number of key regional and international issues, on top of which were peace-making in the Middle East and the implementation of the roadmap," Mubarak said.

"During the talks, we reached an agreement on intensifying joint efforts to implement the blueprint and set up an independent Palestinian state by 2005," he stressed.

On his part, Koizumi reaffirmed Japan's firm support for the implementation of the roadmap, saying his country is keen to work with Arab countries to achieve peace in the Middle East.

"We had frank discussions about peace and stability in the Middle East and bilateral relations," Koizumi said of his talks with Mubarak.

"Japan is keen to contribute to Iraq's reconstruction in cooperation with Arab countries, and work with them to push forward the Mideast peace process," he added.

Koizumi also said Japan would offer Egypt more than 200 million US dollars to contribute to economic and social development in the country.

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