 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 29 July - 4 August 1999 Issue No. 440 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 29 July - 4 August 1999 Issue No. 440
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Travel Living Sports Time Out Chronicles People Cartoons Letters
President Hosni Mubarak during talks with Turkey's President Suleiman Demirel By Nevine Khalil
'No room for pessimism' During talks between President Hosni Mubarak and Turkey's Suleiman Demirel on Monday, the two leaders were optimistic about the future of the peace process. The two presidents reviewed an array of issues including the peace process, the situation in Iraq, Turkey's relations with Syria and Israel, the new government in Israel, as well as witnessing the signing of 12 bilateral agreements.
Demirel shared with Mubarak his "impressions" during recent meetings with Jordan's King Abdullah, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. "We had wide and fruitful discussions," Demirel told a joint press conference, "and there is big convergence in our views on bilateral, regional and international issues."
The Turkish president said that during his visit to Jordan, Israel and Palestine he "detected positive and encouraging signals for the revitalisation of the peace process". He said that there is "an optimistic mood in the region [and] new hope seems to be emerging for new attempts towards peace".
Mubarak agreed. "Let us forget the word pessimism," he said. "As long as there is life, there is optimism." Demirel reiterated that "expectations are high, and so are the stakes. Now is the right and best time."
Mubarak said he believed Barak's assurances that the Israeli premier will honour all signed agreements, although there could be some alterations to the Wye agreement. "[Barak] said he may have a very minor change, and if Arafat didn't accept it, [Barak] is going to implement Wye as it is," Mubarak said. "I think it's better to wait and see." Demirel agreed with Mubarak on the wait-and-see policy, but insisted that signed agreements "should be honoured. That's how we can have peace".
While saying that Egypt has played an important role in achieving peace in the region, Demirel stressed that "Turkey, on her part, will be ready to make a contribution to the Israeli-Palestinian track." The Turkish president believes that, as "the two major, most populous and leading states in the region", Egypt and Turkey "are determined to continue to contribute to peace, stability and common prosperity in the Middle East". He noted that Turkey, with its "long-established" regional ties, "has been an ardent supporter of the peace process [and] genuinely desires that the peace process be put back on track." Demirel reiterated, "I always [say] that the process is a golden opportunity that shouldn't be missed."
Asked how Turkey justifies recent air strikes on its border with Iran and Ankara's continuous incursions in northern Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish rebels, Demirel said that "there is a lot of misinformation". "Turkey did not attack Iranian territories," he insisted, and said that the incident "is being discussed and I think it will be settled". On Iraq, the Turkish president said that "there is a power vacuum in northern Iraq [since] the Gulf crisis", and that "terrorists based in northern Iraq sneak into Turkey and kill the people". He was adamant, noting that "Turkey has the right to self-defence to eliminate these terrorists. It has nothing to do with violating international law or interfering in the [internal affairs] of other countries."
On the bilateral plane, Demirel described relations with Egypt as "strong" and "excellent", and that frequent consultations at a high level between the two countries "is a great expression of our desire and political will to further our relationship in all fields". The two presidents witnessed the signing of 12 cooperation agreements and protocols between the two governments and the private sectors in both countries, including ones in the fields of natural gas, fighting crime, health, trade and agriculture.
According to the Turkish president, these new agreements and protocols "demonstrate the will on both sides to further develop our relations". Both leaders agreed that their goal should be more extensive political ties and broader economic cooperation. This should be done through "joint initiatives" by both the governments and business communities in the two countries.
While in Alexandria, Demirel also visited the construction site of the new Alexandria library, to which he has donated 1,500 books. Another 1,000 are in the pipeline, according to Demirel, who promised that 6,500 more rare books and inscriptions will be delivered to the library for display.
