 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 15 - 21 June 2000 Issue No. 486 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 15 - 21 June 2000 Issue No. 486
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Promoting continuity
By Nevine KhalilPresident Hosni Mubarak led Egypt's official delegation to the late Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad's funeral on Tuesday, and announced three-days of official mourning during which flags were flown at half mast across the country.
On Sunday evening, some 24 hours after Assad's death was announced, Mubarak spoke by long-distance telephone with Bashar Al-Assad, the late president's son and heir apparent. Foreign Minister Amr Moussa had earlier tried to speak to his Syrian counterpart Farouk Al-Sharaa but Sharaa, engaged in a series of meetings, was unreachable.
Earlier on Sunday Mubarak held an emergency meeting of his top aides to "discuss what is happening in Syria because [Assad's death] is a momentous event and stability in Syria is something that concerns us," the president told re-orters. He said that he was "shocked at the death of our comrade and brother." Mubarak noted that he had "known, and had good relations with" Assad for four decades. Mubarak and Assad, both air force pilots, underwent military training in Moscow in the 1960s.
Mubarak indirectly declared support for Bashar, answering a question about the Damascus succession in these terms: "We support the [Syrian] leadership and respect the view of the Syrian people and their choice of president. We understand that there is one candidate, Dr Bashar."
Egyptian delegation paying tribune to an old partner
Speaking to Bashar by telephone later, Mubarak offered his condolences and pledged Egyptian support. He wished Bashar "success in continuing the process" begun by the late president and expressed his "deepest regret" over Assad's death.
Earlier, Mubarak sent a telegram of support to 34-year-old Bashar after the regional command of the ruling Baath party nominated him for the presidency. Bashar was also promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general and was named commander-in-chief of the armed forces on Sunday.
Even before his father's death, Bashar had words of praise for Mubarak, saying the Egyptian president has a "distinguished standing in the hearts of the Syrian people" especially after his solidarity visit last February to Beirut. In recent press statements, Bashar said that Egypt's support of Syrian rights was "unforgettable."
"On every occasion or during any crisis that afflicts the peace process, we find President Mubarak by our side, supporting our cause" in all international fora, Bashar added.
In the wake of Assad's death, Mubarak also spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak by telephone Sunday morning to discuss the Middle East peace process, and met on Monday in Cairo with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to discuss the same agenda. Arafat, who joined Mubarak on his flight to Damascus for the funeral on Tuesday, had last visited Cairo on Friday to brief Mubarak on his meeting with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright last week. He is scheduled to hold talks with US President Bill Clinton today in Washington. Albright had met with Syrian Foreign Minister Al-Sharaa in Cairo on 7 June to take stock of the situation in the peace process, especially along the Syrian and Lebanese tracks.
Hours after Assad's death was announced, the Egyptian presidency issued a statement of condolence to the Syrian people and saluted Hafez Al-Assad as "a friend and comrade in arms... who served his country with honour."
The statement said Mubarak received the news of Assad's death "with the greatest grief," adding that his death "was a great loss for his people and nation and came at a difficult time." But Assad's name will always "remain alive in the annals of Arab national resistance and heroic battles." Cairo will always "cherish Assad who courageously joined hands with Egypt in the [1973] October War, and was the most noble of partners in the struggle for peace," the statement added.
Mubarak gives his condolences to Bashar
Mubarak prayed God "to protect Syria and keep it safe from all harm," hoping for stability and solidarity to prevail there. The statement said that the people of Egypt and all Arab countries "are standing by their brothers in Syria. May God have mercy on the late president's soul," the statement concluded.
Mubarak ordered three days of national mourning following the announcement of the Syrian president's death. As a result, the festive celebrations of Media Day which involve much pomp and splendour were postponed from Monday until next Saturday. However, the religious ceremony marking the Prophet Mohamed's birthday (Moulid Al-Nabi) was to be held on schedule last night.
