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Al-Ahram Weekly 24 - 30 June 1999 Issue No. 435 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 24 - 30 June 1999 Issue No. 435
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Features Interview Travel Sports Time Out Chronicles People Cartoons Letters Summit preparations
EGYPT and Bahrain have emphasised the importance of organising a full-fledged Arab summit as a starting point for reviving Arab solidarity and overcoming differences. In a joint statement issued Tuesday following two days of talks between President Hosni Mubarak and Bahrain's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Eissa Al-Khalifa, the two countries also called for the immediate resumption of the Middle East peace negotiations on all Arab-Israeli tracks on the basis of the land-for-peace formula.
On Iraq, the two leaders announced support for easing the suffering of the Iraqi people after nine years of UN sanctions and maintaining Iraq's unity and territorial integrity. They also declared their backing for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in its dispute with Iran over three Gulf islands and called for a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East. The two leaders said they discussed means of boosting bilateral ties in investment, education and culture.
Sheikh Hamad arrived on Monday for his first visit to Egypt since his accession to the throne following his father's death in March. "The visit is part of the brotherly meetings between Bahrain and Egypt and constitutes a continuation of the policies of the late Sheikh Eissa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, who was always keen on strengthening the brotherly ties between Bahrain and Egypt," said an official Bahraini statement issued upon Sheikh Hamad's arrival.
In statements made on Tuesday to editors of Egyptian publications, Sheikh Hamad said he fully backed President Mubarak's efforts to unite Arab ranks and to promote political and economic cooperation. Asked when he believed an Arab summit should be held, Sheikh Hamad said, "Right now. And I do share President Mubarak's view to organise regular, annual Arab summits even if there are no immediate problems to be discussed."
The Bahraini emir added that his country was also concerned with maintaining the unity of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and solving differences that arise between its six member-states. However, he added that any solution to any dispute must be satisfactory to both parties "otherwise the solution would create more problems." He also emphasised that Arabs should solve their own problems "and not seek assistance from foreigners or others to interfere in our affairs."
