Talking politics and reform

By Nevine Khalil

For over four hours President Hosni Mubarak and Gore discussed the continuing stalemate in the peace process, and presided over the sixth meeting of the US-Egyptian Economic Partnership which began in 1994. In a joint news conference, both men hoped that the London meetings would be successful because the alternatives were bleak.

"If this meeting is not a success, it would greatly complicate things in the future," Mubarak said. Gore agreed, saying that the Palestinians and Israelis should seize this "strategic, extraordinary opportunity" for a breakthrough. Looking ahead, he added that there was "a long way to go" for the peace process, regardless of the outcome of the London meetings. "There are other tracks such as the Syrian and Lebanese tracks, but a successful outcome in London will provide a springboard for the whole process," Gore said.

After Gore's departure, Mubarak went into talks with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, who stopped over in Cairo for consultations on his way to London. "We will wait for the Palestinians to say their word because they have to decide," Mubarak said ahead of meeting with Arafat. "They have to accept or refuse what is being proposed to them."

Gore was hounded by the Egyptian press and media about his visit to Israel to attend celebrations marking its 50th anniversary. He defended the visit, saying that "there is absolutely no inconsistency at all in feeling an historic friendship for Israel and feeling passionately that it is in the best interests of Israel and our other friends in the region to have a successful conclusion to the peace process."

Turning to bilateral relations, Gore praised Egypt's "dramatic success story" in reforming the economy and encouraging foreign investment. "Egypt is moving ahead rapidly with a whole series of common-sense reforms... implemented boldly [to pave] the way for new trade and investment from around the world," the vice-president said. He affirmed the importance of involving the private sectors of both countries in "talking about practical solutions to concrete business problems," announcing that a number of US business leaders will arrive in Egypt next October "to aggressively evaluate the new investment possibilities."

Mubarak and Gore witnessed the signing of one treaty and three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) regulating bilateral relations in law enforcement, small businesses, environment and education as part of the US-Egyptian Economic Partnership. The Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) establishes a framework for law enforcement cooperation between the two countries and will enhance bilateral cooperation on transnational organised crime, terrorism and narcotics.

Cooperation will include serving documents, executing requests for searches and seizures, transferring persons in custody for testimony or other purposes, taking testimony of witnesses in either country and providing documents and records. MLAT covers any criminal offence in the country in which assistance is requested. It is yet to be ratified by the Egyptian parliament and US Congress.

The MoU of the Small Business Administration (SBA) formalises a cooperative relationship between the SBA and the Egyptian government to assist start-up companies in Egypt's developing private sector.

The environmental MoU establishes formal commitments for cooperation on environmental issues, including global climate change, implementation of Egypt's environment law and promotion of sustainable tourism. Environmental Affairs Minister Nadia Makram Ebeid said that a joint committee will be formed to detail the required projects and action plans, reports Mahmoud Bakr. It will also focus on the protection of water resources, reducing air pollution, solid waste management and the use of compressed natural gas as car fuel.

The US Trade Department and companies working in the field of environment will participate in an environment conference which Egypt will organise next year. The conference and accompanying exhibition will showcase the latest technologies used in environmental protection. A dialogue between the Egyptian and American private sectors will focus on "clean" technology, which limits environmental impacts and depends on new and renewable energy sources, according to Ebeid.

The education MoU establishes new programmes for the construction of community schools as well as an exchange programme for principals and teachers.