EGYPT: BRITAIN AND EGYPT SAY EUROPEAN EFORTS COULD REVIVE AILING MIDDLE EAST PEACE INITIATIVES

Record ID: 639705

  • Title: EGYPT: BRITAIN AND EGYPT SAY EUROPEAN EFORTS COULD REVIVE AILING MIDDLE EAST PEACE INITIATIVES
  • Date: 18th April 1998
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (APRIL 17, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV PLANE TAXIING/ UK PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR AND WIFE CHERIE GREETING OFFICIALS (3 SHOTS) 0.34 2. MCU GUARD 0.36 3. SV/MCU OF BLAIR GREETING OFFICIALS; LEAVING BY CAR (5 SHOTS) 1.09 4. SV EXTERIOR OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE 1.14 5. SV/MCU BLAIR AND EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK SEATED FOR TALKS (4 SHOTS) 1.45 6. SV/MCU BLAIR AND MUBARAK AT NEWS CONFERENCE (3 SHOTS) 1.59 7. MCU BLAIR SAYING I HOPE VERY MUCH OVER THESE NEXT FEW DAYS AND WHEN I'M IN ISRAEL WE CAN TRY AND MAKE PROGRESS THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL BRING COMFORT IN THE REGION (ENGLISH) 2.24 8. SV JOURNALISTS 2.27 9. MCU MUBARAK DRAWING PARALLELS WITH PEACE AGREEMENT IN NORTHERN IRELAND SAYING WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY. PEOPLE HERE ARE WILLING TO MOVE TO A COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT AND WE WANT TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY IN THAT DIRECTION (ENGLISH) 2.54 10. LV PRESS CONFERENCE 2.59 11. MCU BLAIR SAYING WE KNOW WHAT AN APPALLING EVENT TERRORIST ATROCITIES ARE. WE WILL DO ALL WE CAN TO WORK WITH EGYPT TO MAKE SURE NO TERRORIST ACTIVITIES ARE ASSISTED FROM BRITAIN. IN BRITAIN THERE ARE LAWS (TO BE PASSED) MAKING IT AN OFFENCE TO COMMIT TERRORIST ATTACKS ABROAD FROM BRITAIN (ENGLISH) 3.45 12. SV MEDIA/END OF CONFERENCE (2 SHOTS) 3.58 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 3rd May 1998 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CAIRO, EGYPT
  • City:
  • Country: Egypt
  • Reuters ID: LVABYHQSNJ1UZS7AX2V70Y21MI6B
  • Story Text: Britain and Egypt have said European efforts could revive ailing Middle East peace initiatives but added that goodwill is the key to resolving disputes between the Palestinians and Israel.

    British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak gave a joint news conference after talks and an official dinner in Cairo on Friday (April 17).

    The British premier also pledged Britain would do its best to curb the activities of Islamic militants fighting Egypt's government and who use Britain as a base.Almost 1,200 people have been killed since 1992 in the political violence in Egypt.

    "What Britain, as the head of the European Union (EU) and in its own right, hopes very much is that we can help make progress, as I believe that is vital here in the Middle East, particularly in relations between the Palestinians and Israel," Blair said.

    Construction work on a Jewish settlement on occupied Arab land in Jerusalem halted peace talks last March and the crisis was further complicated by Palestinian suicide bombings and disputes over Israeli troop redeployment from the West Bank.

    Britain now holds the EU's rotating presidency and Foreign Secretary Robin Cook launched earlier this year an EU plan, including a proposal for a substantial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian lands, to restart peace talks.

    Blair, in Cairo on his first stop of his first Middle East tour as prime minister, said the Palestinians and Israel were the only ones who could push forward the negotiations.

    His remarks were echoed by Mubarak, whose country champions the Palestinian side of the negotiations.

    Mubarak said "When there is a will there is a way.The people are willing to move towards a comprehensive settlement, but I hope the leaders could work in that direction." Egypt and other Arab states want a stronger European role in the peace talks to counter what they see as the bias of the negotiations patron, the United States, towards Israel.

    Blair pledged that Britain would do its best to curb the activities of Islamic militants fighting Egypt's government and who use Britain as a base.


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