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Al-Ahram Weekly 9 - 15 September 1999 Issue No. 446 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 9 - 15 September 1999 Issue No. 446
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Focus Culture Features Books Special Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters The Egyptian factor
By Dina EzzatIt was Egypt's decision to host the signing ceremony of the protocol of the implementation of the Wye River Memorandum. The decision, sources say, was meant to serve national and regional interests: keeping the peace process afloat in order to give as much momentum as possible to the handover of occupied territories to the Palestinians, and maintaining Egypt's central position in this regional-international business.
While welcoming the various parties to the resort of Sharm Al-Sheikh for the signing ceremony, Cairo entertained no illusions about the kind of peace that the revised Wye River Memorandum would bring to the region.
"This signing means that the Palestinians are going to get something, and something is better than nothing; it also means that the Syrians are going to show greater keenness to forge ahead with negotiations with Israel," commented one Egyptian official.
Indeed, before and after the signing of Wye II, Egypt used a very carefully-worded discourse in its description of the deal, its price and its consequences.
According to Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, the deal "could mean a breakthrough for peace in the region provided it is faithfully implemented by both parties." But are there enough signs of a faithful Israeli implementation? "The proof of the pudding is in the eating. We will see," he answered.
On the concessions that the Palestinian Authority had to make on the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released, Moussa said: "The Palestinian negotiator was in a tough situation and he had to make a decision that grants him as much on as many fronts as possible." Moussa, however, was keen to wash Egypt's hands of encouraging the Palestinians to compromise. "Egypt was not party to the negotiations on the issue of prisoners," he said. "When Egypt talks, it talks about the key issue of returning as much occupied territory to the Palestinians as possible; the Palestinians made their decision on the issue of the prisoners."
Egypt firmly opposes the on-going construction of Israeli settlements in occupied territories, but it does not decide for the Palestinians whether or not they should have deals with Israel while it presses ahead with this settlement policy. Moussa put it in plain words: "Egypt's position is that we do not decide on behalf of the Palestinians, but we help them when they ask for our help."
The political implications of this sixth agreement between the Palestinians and Israel have yet to be seen. But signs are already emerging.
Israel continues to be adamant that it will not join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and will not open its nuclear arsenal to international inspection.
Meanwhile, there is talk about the resumption of conferences on Middle East/North Africa (MENA) economic cooperation. Some sources expect that before the end of this year, Cairo will be hosting the next MENA summit. Moreover, the Gulf states and several North African countries are already having a dialogue with Israel over the modalities of launching, or upgrading, political and economic cooperation.
But isn't this premature, particularly since Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has proved, through the latest negotiations with the Palestinians, that he is sticking to his "red lines"?
Says one Egyptian diplomat: "The Palestinians say they want to go ahead with Barak; the US is keen on keeping this process going; most regional players, due to the interests they have with the US, are also keen to accept the currently available formula for a settlement."
The diplomat added: "When you bear this in mind, and when you also bear in mind that Egypt has its interests with the US, which we have recently over-jeopardised for the sake of the Palestinians, then the kind of peace that Barak is offering should be given a chance."
The unity of Sudan, on which the US seems to be constantly changing its mind, and the unity and future of Iraq, on which the US seems to be uncertain, are now urgent issues for Egyptian diplomacy to work on.
"Obviously, when the peace process moves forward, the US will be in a situation to show greater intransigence on these issues; we have to try and break this inter-relation," said one diplomat.
He added that these issues will come under discussion at a meeting between Moussa and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on the fringe of the forthcoming UN General Assembly session.
