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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 21 - 27 September 2000 Issue No. 500 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 21 - 27 September 2000 Issue No. 500
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Elections Development Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Special Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Fair play
FOR OVER two hours yesterday, President Hosni Mubarak met with the National Democratic Party's (NDP) politburo and general secretariat to discuss the upcoming parliamentary elections. In his capacity as chairman of the NDP, Mubarak told his fellow party members that Egypt is looking forward to a parliament representing all political trends and a "true expression of the will of the people."The president urged all candidates and political parties to "play fair", saying that the NDP's political platform aims to "modernise society through a national programme giving political institutions a larger and more efficient role."
The chief executive also emphasised the role of the media in highlighting the importance of going to the polls and participating in the democratic process. "The media should assist in building confidence between the citizen and the legislative system," said Mubarak, "and avoid maligning candidates."
Barak's bluff
ISRAEL scrambled yesterday to renew peace talks with the Palestinians, reversing an announcement of a "time-out" only hours earlier. Palestinians, meanwhile, insisted they would not return to negotiations until Israel clarifies its position.Negotiators were due to meet on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's office said. Yet, Palestinians said they would not meet with the Israelis as long as Barak sends confusing signals.
Barak was widely criticised yesterday for what Israeli media described as an embarrassing zigzag course. Analysts said the prime minister had tried to pressure Palestinian President Yasser Arafat by suspending negotiations, and reversed himself when it became apparent the move could lead to a real crisis in the negotiations. Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin said the confusion was due to an "internal misunderstanding" in the Barak government.
Palestinian negotiator Hassan Asfour told Agence France Presse (AFP) that negotiations would not continue if such "game playing" persisted. "If they want to come to negotiate, we will come. If they want to play games, the Palestinians will not continue," he said.
"We will ask the Americans what they will do about this question," Asfour said. "Until now we have not found an Israeli partner to negotiate with. They are only wasting time."
Cleopatra 2000
THE NAVIES of Egypt, Italy, France and Germany have deployed 12 naval units off Egypt's northern coast in joint manoeuvres, code-named "Cleopatra 2000," reports Amira Ibrahim from Alexandria.Scores of helicopters, beach craft and fuel supply craft have been taking part in the exercises which started on Tuesday and will end on 28 September. These exercises are the largest ever conducted in the Mediterranean.
Commanders of the four naval contingents taking part in the war games held a news conference yesterday on board the French frigate Suffren in which they explained the goals of the exercise.
Admiral Tawfiq Abu Gendia, deputy commander of the Egyptian navy's operations sector, said Cleopatra 2000 aimed at enhancing the level of cooperation and coordination among the navies of the four countries, particularly in the area of humanitarian operations. Taking the case of the ill-fated Russian submarine "Kursk" as a lesson, the manoeuvres have focused on search and rescue operations.
Germany's participation in the exercises marks the first time it has conducted naval manoeuvres with Egypt. France and Egypt have regularly conducted joint naval exercises since 1988.
