Mubarak pushed Egypt-Jordan peace plan with Bush
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Wednesday, April 4, 2001
WASHINGTON — President Hosni Mubarak is urging the United States to
adopt an Egyptian-Jordanian plan to end the Israeli-Palestinian mini-war.
Mubarak outlined the plan during his meeting with President George Bush
in the White House on Monday. Officials said Mubarak urged his U.S.
counterpart to act quickly to stop the violence.
The Egyptian president appeared to be responding to critics who accused
Mubarak of doing little to stop Palestinian attacks against Israel. Mubarak
is said to have reduced contacts with Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser
Arafat in recent weeks as the latter has increased coordination with Iraq
and Syria.
"We are working very hard, and we are going to cooperate very hard in
the direction of peace, because our main concern is peace and stability in
the area of the Middle East," Mubarak said.
The plan by Egypt and Jordan is said to be based on the principles of an
agreement concluded by then-U.S. President Bill Clinton last year at the
start of the mini-war. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has rejected the
plan, insisting on an unconditional end to the violence.
For his part, Bush said he would continue to work to end the more than
six-month-old mini-war. The president expressed appreciation for Mubarak's
efforts but also called on Egypt to return its ambassador to Israel.
Later, a senior official said the United States would not return to
direct involvement in any future negotiations between Israel and the
Palestinians.
Bush and Mubarak also discussed the increase in U.S. economic and
military aid to Cairo and the future of Iraq. Egypt has called for the
lifting of United Nations sanctions imposed on the regime of Iraqi President
Saddam Hussein.
"We're friends," Bush said. "We'll remain friends. And we'll work
together to bring peace to the Middle East."
Later, a senior administration official said Bush also began with
Mubarak a discussion on building a stronger defense relationship with Egypt.
The official said ideas would be discussed during Mubarak's meetings with
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and National Security Adviser Condeleezza
Rice.
Wednesday, April 4, 2001
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