Visions of peace
While the 30-year-old military feat of 6 October paved the way for peace in the region, this goal has yet to be achieved
In his address to the nation marking the 30th anniversary of the October War, President Hosni Mubarak said that a neutral and effective monitoring body must be created to supervise a fair-handed implementation of the roadmap peace proposal. In addition, said Mubarak on Sunday, there needs to be "control of violence and counter-violence as well as the relaunch of negotiations" between the Palestinians and Israelis, Nevine Khalil reports. Mubarak added that as the newly formed Palestinian government comes into power, the international community and the diplomatic Quartet -- comprising the US, EU, Russia and the UN -- "must intervene to compel both sides, in particular Israel, to honour their commitments in relation to the roadmap".
He told the nation that despite an increase in international efforts to bring peace to the Middle East, and in spite of a new US vision for the formation of a Palestinian state, "the Palestinian cause finds itself on a steep curve" as a result of increased levels of violence and the derailing of the roadmap. Mubarak continued his address by saying that this was very discouraging, particularly since the crisis comes hot on the heels of several positive events, namely the creation of the post of Palestinian prime minister and the agreement to a ceasefire by the Palestinian factions. "Israel abused the lull resulting from the truce, using it to assassinate leaders of Palestinian factions, build further settlements and engage in provocative actions, resulting once again in a cycle of violence which threatens to drive a stake through the heart of the peace process," noted Mubarak.
Continuing to blame Tel Aviv for obstructing the road to peace, Mubarak said that Israel "is complicating the situation further by claiming to the world that the elected Palestinian President Yasser Arafat is an obstacle to peace which must be removed". In an interview with the Armed Forces magazine Al-Quwwat Al- Musallaha published on Tuesday, Mubarak stressed that, "Arafat is the first Palestinian leader to sign a peace agreement with Israel and he is the most prominent Palestinian figure with whom negotiations can be made to bring about peace." Mubarak cautioned that, "[Arafat's] absence from the scene is certain to give rise to many Arafats and many organisations. If Israel placed restrictions on the Palestinian Authority, expelled or assassinated its leading figures, who would it negotiate with?"
In his speech on Sunday, Mubarak expressed sorrow for both Palestinian and Israeli civilian casualties, but added that, "targeting Arafat will not serve the cause of peace". His advice is for Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories, to put a stop to "provocative acts" and work towards the creation of a Palestinian state.
Mubarak noted that the 1973 War paved the way for a permanent and just peace in the region, which was shored up by cooperation, reciprocated security, good neighbourly relations and efforts within the region to promote development, democratisation and prosperity. He said that, "the great feat achieved in October 1973 rectified the setback [of 1967] and restored the nation's faith in itself." He continued by saying that it "proved Egypt's ability to distinguish itself militarily". Mubarak added that the October War also redressed the balance of power in the Middle East, changed many military theories and put an end to "the myth of an undefeatable power".
The president stated that the war also underlined several irrefutable principles, first that regardless of how great a power is, it cannot force a people to submit to occupation and loss of their rights; second, that conflicts based on expansionism do not lead to security and stability, but rather to violence, destruction and hatred -- the road to peace begins with liberating occupied lands; third, a viable military force must be maintained to ensure national sovereignty and independence.
Mubarak applauded the late President Anwar El-Sadat "who took on an immense and historic responsibility by making the courageous decision to break the no-peace, no-war state of affairs at the time. The achievement of a just peace was his great goal for the war; to bring about security and stability". The anniversary of the October War also marks the day on which Sadat was gunned down by Muslim militants on 6 October, 1981.
In his speech, Mubarak saluted "the spirits of our valiant martyrs who sacrificed their most valuable possession for their country". Earlier in the day, Mubarak had visited the War Memorial in Nasr City, and placed wreaths on the tombs of Sadat and the Unknown Soldier. He also visited the late President Gamal Abdel-Nasser's tomb on the occasion of the October War anniversary. Before giving his speech, Mubarak chaired a meeting with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to discuss several issues pertaining to national security, and the broad outline of Egypt's military strategy in the future.
In the interview with Al-Quwwat Al- Musallaha, Mubarak stressed that the "real key for a breakthrough in Iraq is the ability of the Iraqi people to exercise sovereignty over their country as soon as possible". He also called for the urgent formation of a committee to draft a new Iraqi constitution, the implementation of plans for reconstruction of the country, as well as the provision of employment for the millions of jobless Iraqis. Mubarak reiterated Egypt's refusal to send troops into Iraq under current conditions, noting that "Egypt will not be party to a war or military operation against any Arab country."
In his broadcast address two days earlier, the president pledged Egypt's support to "assist the Iraqi people as best we can to weather this critical phase". This pledge is guided by the conviction that "achieving peace and stability in Iraq depends first and foremost on its citizens firmly holding the reins of power." And, continued Mubarak, Egypt wants to see "a specific time frame to restore conditions in Iraq to normalcy, to enable Iraqis to rule themselves as soon as possible".
