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Al-Ahram Weekly 8 - 14 April 1999 Issue No. 424 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 8 - 14 April 1999 Issue No. 424
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Focus Profile Features Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Fruits of mediation
MEDIATION by Egypt aimed at fostering a dialogue between representatives of the Sudanese government and opposition on the unity of Sudan may soon bear fruit. Diplomatic sources told Al-Ahram Weekly that both the Khartoum government and opposition figures based in Cairo have responded favourably to the mediation effort launched by Egypt a few months ago."What we are offering both sides is a dialogue aimed at bringing about agreement on a cessation of all military activities as well as a package for a rapprochement that takes into consideration all the aspects of the Sudanese problem [ethnic, religious and political] with the objective of maintaining the unity of Sudan and the legitimate rights of all its citizens in the north and south," an informed source told the Weekly.
The source added that while the two sides have yet to agree on terms under which the dialogue will take place, "it seems that we are getting there." Asked if the dialogue was expected to open within the coming months, the source answered, "I think that we are talking about the coming weeks."
Kosovo consultations
FOREIGN MINISTER Amr Moussa is expected to fly to Geneva shortly to take part in a meeting of six member-states of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) that will focus on the Kosovo crisis. The meeting will be chaired by Kamal Kharazi, foreign minister of Iran,which is the current chair of the OIC. The four other participants are Turkey, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Indonesia."The important thing is that all efforts have to be made to stop the dangerous ethnic cleansing that is being carried out against the Kosovans," Moussa said.
This week, due to the deteriorating situation in Yugoslavia, Egypt recalled its diplomatic mission in Belgrade. "This is a temporary measure caused by the current developments there, but the mission will be back," Moussa said.
Honourary consuls
EGYPT and Costa Rica, which do not maintain diplomatic relations, will soon be naming honourary consuls to be posted in Cairo and San Jose. "This will be very soon. I have been talking with Foreign Minister Amr Moussa about enhancing the relations [between our two countries] with a view towards the next century," said Costa Rican Foreign Minister Roberto Rojas after talks with Moussa in Cairo last Friday."Egypt and Costa Rica can become allies in many fields where we have common interests," Rojas said.
Costa Rica has not had good relations with most Arab countries due to its traditionally pro-Israeli stance. But it seems that this is likely to be somehow redressed.
According to Rojas, the position taken by his country on the Arab-Israeli conflict was discussed with Moussa. He said that the establishment of a diplomatic "linkage" between Egypt and Costa Rica may facilitate talks on the matter.
Asked about his country's position on a potential declaration of an independent Palestinian state, Rojas said: "Well, the Palestinians have the right to have their will. I think there has been a very recent important call by the European Union on this matter; and we are of course not involved -- being so far from this area -- but we are watching developments." Rojas added, "What we stand for in Costa Rica is for [any] process to take place to be in a peaceful manner."
Rojas said that he planned to visit several Arab countries this year with the purpose of building bridges with the Arab world.
Summit consultations
ARAB diplomatic sources in Cairo spoke this week of consultations between Egypt, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates on the possibility of organising a comprehensive Arab summit to be attended by Iraq. The sources referred to the planned stop-over by President Hosni Mubarak in the United Arab Emirates on the way home from his current Asian tour as an occasion for an exchange of updates on the outcome of these consultations. The sources also spoke of a short visit that the president made to Kuwait late last month as yet another endeavour to "clear the inter-Arab climate."Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, asked on Sunday about the possibility of an Arab summit, told reporters, "There is no Arab summit that should be expected in the coming few days or the coming few weeks."
Diplomatic sources told Al-Ahram Weekly that what some Arab countries are trying to promote now is to have the Arab world accept that the Iraqi regime is here to stay and that the sooner regional governments come to terms with this, the better.
