Source: Egyptian Press and Information OfficeEgyptian President Hosni Mubarak appealed today to Barack Obama to remain fully engaged in the negotiations of the Peace Process that he has launched. President Mubarak met with President Barack Obama, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, D.C. Afterwards, Egyptian Presidential Spokesperson Ambassador Soliman Awaad said that Mubarak hoped the talks would be successful, but urged the U.S. to help bridge the gaps in positions.
"It is not enough to offer a dinner or to give some speeches," said Awaad. "It will take more than handshakes, smiles, and photo ops to make this long-awaited peace in the Middle East. What is really needed is for the United States to step in, remain committed, remain engaged, … and lend a helping hand to the two parties in order to help bridge the gaps in their positions, sort out their differences." Ambassador Soliman Awaad continued, "And Egypt, President Mubarak said today, is willing, ready, able, and looking forward to play the same role. We have done it before."
Awaad said that President Mubarak believes the Israeli leader is serious about wanting peace. Today was the sixth meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Mubarak since the Prime Minister took office a year and a half ago. "We believe Prime Minister Netanyahu is the kind of leader who can have a vision and he can take decisions in order to make it materialize," said Awaad. "It is not the ability or inability of Prime Minister Netanyahu; it is rather the will or the lack of will of Prime Minister Netanyahu. We hope that the will is there. We are sure that the ability is there. We would like to see the peace process, launched and initiated by Egypt many years ago – more than 30 years ago – coming to a successful conclusion at long last."
However, the presidential spokesperson warned that the success of peace talks was dependent on the moratorium on new Israeli settlements remaining in place. It is due to expire on September 26.
"Unless the moratorium is extended, all bets are off," said Awaad. "Should Abu Mazen leave the negotiations in case the moratorium is not renewed, his position will be very well understood by Egypt and others."
The presidential spokesperson encouraged further direct talks between Netanyahu and Abbas before September 26. In an op-ed published in the New York Times today, Mubarak offered to host future talks in Egypt.
During his meeting, President Mubarak briefed Obama on his contacts with the other parties, including the Palestinian leaders.
To view full coverage of today's press conference, click here.
