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Al-Ahram Weekly 25 February - 3 March 1999 Issue No. 418 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 25 February - 3 March 1999 Issue No. 418
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Crucial dates
By Nevine KhalilPresident Hosni Mubarak was in Italy and Germany this week to sound out the views of the two country's new leaderships on a number of regional and bilateral issues. These included the stalled Middle East peace process, the Iraq crisis and the standoff between Libya and the West over the Lockerbie tragedy.
Mubarak, who hopes to see Europe taking a more active role in regional peace-making, held talks with Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema in Rome and later with German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in Bonn.
Accompanied by Foreign Minister Amr Moussa and presidential adviser Osama El-Baz, Mubarak began his European trip in Italy on Monday and brought it to a close yesterday in Germany. The journey came at a critical time for the Middle East, as the countdown began for two decisive dates that are now less than three months away. The first is the 4 May deadline stipulated by the 1993 Oslo accords for concluding Palestinian-Israeli negotiations on the final status of the occupied territories -- negotiations which have not yet even opened. The Palestinians believe that, under the accords, they have the right to declare an independent state once this deadline is past. The second crucial date is 17 May, when Israel will hold early parliamentary elections.
Although Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has repeatedly described 4 May as a "sacred date," it is still unclear whether he will actually declare an independent state by or on that day. Mubarak told reporters in Bonn yesterday that the 4 May issue was "still under discussion with the Palestinian Authority, and I hope they reach a decision on it sometime [soon]".
"Nothing has been decided," Moussa added. "Matters are still being crystallised." Like most countries, Egypt believes that it would be preferable for the declaration to be postponed, but Moussa affirmed that Egypt will support the Palestinian decision "either way."
The European Union, currently presided by Germany, has been urged to play a more active role in the peace process and not simply restrict itself to providing (albeit substantial) economic input. Following talks with Mubarak yesterday, Schröder appeared to commit the EU to moving in this direction. "Germany will support the EU in playing a political role," he told reporters.
Before embarking on his trip, Mubarak observed that Europe and the United States should "pay greater attention to the peace process, because if it stops, this will be a dangerous situation for everyone." Moussa reiterated the same message in Italy. "Now is the time for Europe openly to assume a political role," he told reporters after two hours of talks with his Italian counterpart Lamberto Dini. "So far, Europe has not done enough."
Europe has already recognised the Palestinians' right to self-determination, but has yet to follow up with a direct involvement in peace-making. "Doubtless, the EU should play a bigger role in the peace process," Italy's D'Alema conceded, adding that both Palestinians and Israelis should refrain from any form of unilateral action for the present. "It is difficult to expect any great leap forward for the time being," he said, "but what we should try to avoid are steps backwards," such as Jewish settlement-building -- or a declaration of a Palestinian state.
D'Alema argued that the postponement of the declaration would be "a sign of respect for the Israeli people at this stage," and was adamant this would not negate the Palestinians' right to self-determination. Postponement "does not mean that they have given up their right to a state. But it is a step which should receive international support," he added.
It is in any case highly unlikely that a Palestinian state would, for the time being, obtain any significant recognition from a number of important sections of the world community. A declaration on 4 May would, moreover, be bound to influence the Israeli electorate when they go to the polls two weeks later.
Schröder said that "more consultations and discussions are needed as to when such a state can be declared," adding that he and Mubarak's viewpoints were "similar" on many of the issues addressed in their discussions. The Chancellor also said that there will be "continued coordination" between Germany, the EU and Egypt.
Mubarak, for his part, declared that the Palestinian Authority "needs international political support" to take a decision about postponement. In Bonn, he specifically suggested that the Palestinians need "the support of the US and Europe" at this point in time.
D'Alema suggested the possibility of "international guarantees," but it is still unclear what precise way forward would be acceptable to the Palestinians. According to Egyptian officials, the Europeans are concerned that the political situation might be "complicated further" if the Palestinians declared their state, "but they do not dispute their right to statehood."
Cairo believes that setting a date for the declaration of a Palestinian state is not a priority right now. It is more important that the world community stand behind the Palestinians in their negotiations with Israel. "We cannot be prisoners to a date," Moussa said, "but we have to be very specific about the time-frame."
Mubarak's agenda in Rome and Bonn also included the ongoing negotiations on an Egyptian-European partnership. A number of problems have been encountered, but, according to Moussa, these should be resolved soon, through "accelerated talks to iron out differences."
The Barcelona process, or the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, was another item on the agenda, in preparation for next April's Stuttgart meeting of the 15 European and 12 Mediterranean countries.
Bilateral relations with each country were also discussed in depth, with the aim of boosting the volume of trade and attracting additional investments.
In Bonn, Mubarak and Schröder announced the creation of a joint economic council, which will work to cement Egyptian-German economic ties. The two leaders also agreed on the establishment of a German technology university in Egypt.
Related articles:
Bilateral momentum
Dealing with the deadline
