7 - 13 March 2002
Issue No.576
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 7 - 13 March 2002 Issue No.576 |
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Putting the message across
President Mubarak's Washington agenda has been crammed with talk of peace, war, the promotion of dialogue and economic cooperation. Nevine Khalil stays abreast of the hectic schedule
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After conducting several interviews with the media last weekend, President Hosni Mubarak began his official itinerary by receiving the "Torch of Liberty" from the Volunteers for America Society in recognition of his commitment to Egyptian peace and prosperity. In the brief ceremony at the guest presidential residence of Blair House, Mubarak said that he had always admired the organisation's work in helping individuals, families and communities through its comprehensive provision of charity. "Through providing seed-funding support, Volunteers for America is offering to help create small businesses in Egypt and promote tourism. This is how you reach out, not only to young Egyptians but also to the whole people of Egypt," Mubarak said in his acceptance speech.
At a joint press conference with President George Bush, receiving the 'Torch of Liberty' award and in discussions with US Vice President Dick Cheney, Mubarak's US visit is being hailed a success
During most of his discussions of the peace process with various US officials such as Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and CIA Director George Tenet, Mubarak paved the way for talks with President George W Bush. The Egyptian president emphasised the need to end the trading of accusations between the Palestinians and Israelis and launch talks as soon as possible in order to save the region from disaster. "We have to do something, whether we like it or not, to at least force [the two sides] to the [negotiating] table," Mubarak told CNN. His plan is to calm tensions in the region, currently at boiling point, in order to pave the way for a meeting between Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. On the issue of Iraq, Mubarak told the Americans that a regime change should be carried out by the Iraqis themselves and that Iraq should not be targeted as part of the US-led campaign against terror.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher told reporters after Powell's meeting with Mubarak that both sides agreed on the necessity of stemming the bloodshed and relaunching talks, but it was yet uncertain at what level such talks should be held. "The level of representation at such a meeting is still undecided," Maher said, characterising Sharon's response to the Egyptian invitation to host a Sharon- Arafat summit as "not positive. The issue is not who meets who, but that meetings by both sides are held soon to end the tragedy which the Palestinians are now living through," he added.
Maher said that the siege imposed on Arafat since 3 December was not so much the focus of discussion as "the siege of the Palestinian people" as a whole. "Everybody knows how important it is for the Israelis to allow freedom of movement, not only for the Palestinian people, but also for its leader." At the same time, Maher stated that Egypt was calling on the world community "to intervene and put an end to Israel's aggressive actions."
On bilateral matters, there was no talk of US economic aid to Egypt, which amounted to $645 million in 2002. Instead, discussions focused on increasing bilateral investments and trade, as well as boosting dialogue between the private sectors of each country.
During a meeting with Secretary of Trade and Commerce Don Evans, it was decided that the US-Egyptian Presidents' Council would soon be reactivated following a period of dormancy that has ensued since former US President Bill Clinton left office. While still performing the same tasks, namely advising both governments on how to promote bilateral economic ties, new faces are expected on both sides. The private sector body will hold its first meeting before the end of June in Egypt, under the auspices of the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Trade Youssef Boutros-Ghali and US Secretary of Trade Don Evans. This is a demotion of sorts, given that the body's predecessor was overseen by Mubarak and former Vice-President Al Gore.
While steps are almost finalised for the new Presidents' Council, arduous negotiations have still to take place on a Free Trade Agreement (FAT) between Egypt and the US. "We continue to have discussions about the FAT but nothing has been decided," Evans said. Boutros- Ghali added that "nothing happens overnight," although the Republican administration on the whole was "more receptive" to free trade than the previous Democratic one. The trade balance is clearly tipped in favour of the US, with Egypt exporting some $880 million worth of products to the US, and importing nearly four times as much -- $3.8 billion annually.
Nonetheless, the Egyptians gained some ground in presenting their case for more market access within the US. Boutros-Ghali said that the US had been "very helpful and supportive, promising to open up a number of areas for our products. I believe this has a lot of potential."
As for US investment in Egypt, it rose by just over $500 million in 2000, bringing it to $2.7 billion and making it the second largest investor in Egypt. "We think there is opportunity for American investment in Egypt and we're looking forward to exposing this to American investors," noted Evans.
Mubarak's visit to the Pentagon was to meet Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on the subject of military cooperation. Mubarak later told reporters that "there are no problems" in this field. Egypt receives $1.3 billion in military aid every year; it is the second largest recipient in the Middle East after Israel. Rumsfeld described relations as "very strong" and spoke of "excellent cooperation" between the two sides. He also complimented Mubarak on "the wonderful cooperation he is providing on the global war on terrorism." The president visited Arlington Cemetery to lay a wreath at the graves of the Pentagon victims of 11 September. In the Condolences Register for the victims he wrote of Egypt's "deep sorrow and profound grief" over the attacks. "The magnitude of such barbaric attacks and the motivation behind them should always remain in our minds as a symbol of the urgent need to work together to confront the forces of terror and ignorance," he added.
Mubarak, addressing a luncheon organised by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) on Tuesday, said that, despite the differences between Egypt and the US, "we share a vision of prosperity for the peoples of the Middle East. Let us join forces. We owe it to them to unite our two nations against all those forces that wish us apart."
He told the gathering that, despite the bleak outlook in the Middle East, Egypt's "commitment to a region of peace and tolerance, free from oppression and injustice remains unshaken." Mubarak continued that the Arab-Israeli conflict had generated an endless cycle of violence, which needed to be addressed. "We owe it to the peoples of the Middle East never to lose sight of the core issue," Mubarak told the audience who included CFR Chairman Peter Peterson, Director of the Middle East Institute Edward Walker and former US ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk. "Occupation must end. Palestinians must have a viable state. Coexistence and security for countries in the region must be guaranteed," he said.
Nonetheless, he added that while the vision is in place, achieving it may be a tall order. He reviewed Egypt's efforts at peacemaking which have comprised consultations with Palestinian and Israeli leaders, offering to host security and political talks and arranging a meeting between Arafat and Sharon. "These offers remain on the table until now," he said. However, Mubarak said he was unwilling to hold bilateral talks with Sharon unless the Israeli leader agreed to expand the meeting to include Arafat. Earlier, he told CNN that he was ready to go to Israel "if my visit could solve the problem [because] everybody is losing." He added, however, that "if visiting Israel [was] for the sake of doing Sharon a favour, I'm not ready to do any favours."
On the issue of terrorism, Mubarak said that the world community had "responded together to the forces of darkness and we endeavour to remove this cancer which threatens us all." He urged speedy action, "so we can rid the world of this scourge, for it will take many forms yet, and it will try again in different parts of the world."
During the question and answer session moderated by former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, Mubarak said that "This complicated situation (Intifada) which has lasted for 18 months is terrible. We have to bring the two parties together. They should sit [at the negotiating table], whether they like it or not. We have to find a solution."
Mubarak urged the Israelis to accept and implement any of the proposed schemes, including the Saudi ideas which "for the first time propose the normalisation of relations with Israel should peace prevail." In defending Arafat's leadership of his people, Mubarak said that "we cannot remove Arafat. If Arafat disappeared for one reason or another, there would ensue a state of disorder. Arafat for now is an important figure for the Palestinians, [later] they can say if they want to change this or that."
Mubarak ended the luncheon on an optimistic note, saying, "The forces for peace in the world are much more than the voices of war, so I am very optimistic. Peace will prevail whether they like it or not."
There was more talk of peace, prosperity and bilateral cooperation when Mubarak toured Capitol Hill and met prominent congressmen and senators. Shortly before returning to Egypt, Mubarak spent four hours putting Egypt's view across to American legislators to promote understanding between the two countries. Earlier in the day, he was debating critical issue over breakfast with a number of prominent thinkers and intellectuals in the US.
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