• MB News
  • November 5, 2005
  • 9 minutes read

Mubarak to Al Ahram: Egypt’s national unity is a red line

Mubarak to Al Ahram: Egypt’s national unity is a red line

Mubarak to Al Ahram: Egypt’s national unity is a red line that should not be crossed
Egypt

In an interview with the Egyptian al-Ahram daily, President Hosni Mubarak said his contacts with Arab and world leaders on regional issues have never stopped. President Mubarak noted that the Arab causes were at the core of his daily interests as these issues were closely related to the region’s stability.

President Mubarak expressed keenness on the stability of Syria and voiced confidence in the wisdom of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in dealing with the current situation in a way that would help settle it.

The Egyptian president also said he was closely following up the Palestinian issue and exerting all possible efforts to stop any escalations of the current situation.

He noted that he was working for upholding the truce between Israel and the Palestinian factions that was reached during Sharm el-Sheikh summit in February.

Israel should be aware that peace will not be realized unless the Roadmap peace plan is implemented, said Mubarak.

As for the situation in Iraq, Mubarak noted that he was supporting all regional and international efforts in support of the Iraqi political process.

He underlined the importance of ending the foreign occupation of Iraq and the return of the war-torn Arab state’s sovereignty and independence.

President Mubarak, in his interview with Usama Saraya, the chief editor of the Egyptian al-Ahram daily, expressed best wishes to all Egyptians and Arabs on the occasion of the Lesser Bairam.

President Mubarak noted that remarkable events took place in Egypt in the year 2005 including amendment of Article 76 of the Egyptian constitution and holding the first multi-candidate presidential election along with the November parliamentary elections.

He noted the year 2005 is constituting a turning point in Egypt’s history as it heralded a new era of Egypt’s national march.

An era that will see more political, economic and social reforms, pointed out the Egyptian President.

He added that the coming parliamentary election will not be like any other previous polls as it comes after presidential election through the direct secret balloting.

The coming parliamentary elections, said Mubarak, will see fierce competitions among candidates as each candidate will be seeking to gain the confidence of the voters.

As for recent events in Alexandria, with some angry Muslims throwing stones at a church after reports on screening a play inside the church offending Islam, President Mubarak regretted such incidents. Such incidents, he pointed out, are indicating that there were some handful of people who are seeking to drive a wedge among Egypt’s Muslims and Copts.

President Mubarak underlined the importance of being vigilant to such plots and prevent those people from attaining their ulterior goals.

President Mubarak said he has always confirmed that Egypt’s national unity and stability are a red line that should not be crossed.

The Egyptian president said he has never differentiated between a Muslim and a Copt in Egypt all are Egyptians enjoying the citizenship rights.

President Mubarak highlighted the necessity of uprooting extremism whatsoever its sources. Egypt throughout its history has always been an interwoven texture of both Muslims and Copts, said the President.

In his interview with al-Ahram daily, President Mubarak said his current priorities are now carrying out his election platform.

Answering a question on his future plan regarding the Iraqi issue and the Syrian file and whether there will be an Arab summit to discuss the current regional developments, President Mubarak said that he held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Cairo and Damascus where they discussed means of maintaining Syria’s cooperation with the international commission probing the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafiq al-Hariri along with means of positively responding to a recent United Nations Security Council resolution on Syria.

President Bashar, said President Mubarak, announced a series of positive steps and measures to help settle the situation.

As for the Palestinian issue, President Mubarak noted that he met with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas before and after his tour of France, Spain and the US. He noted that he also met with Israeli Minister of Defence Shaul Mofaz.

These contacts are meant to contain any escalation of the current situation in the Palestinian territories, said Mubarak.

Regarding the Iraqi issue, President Mubarak added that the main prop for rendering the Iraqi political process successful was the non-marginalization of any Iraqi faction from that process.

As to a recent visit by Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa to Iraq and an agreement on holding an Iraqi reconciliation conference in the Cairo-based AL premises, President Mubarak noted that such an agreement was a good omen.

He pledged to work for rendering the conference successful.

As for proposals on holding an Arab summit to probe the current Arab situation, President Mubarak said he did not receive any official note on this conference. He noted however that he would not reject such a meeting in case all the Arab leaders were unanimous on this score.