October  28, 2002

Mubarak in an inclusive interview with Morocco’s Satellite Channel

    Q: Why does US President George W. Bush insist on striking Iraq?

    A: To give everyone his due, there has been no fierce insistence on using military force against Iraq recently. By no means do defend a certain person; however, the US President found out that the entire world was against waging a war on Iraq as the one and only option. Therefore, I called on Iraq to comply with relevant UN Security Council resolutions in order to steer clear of a regional apocalypse which would claim the lives of innocent people.

   I hope Iraqi latest statements that they do not possess Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) would prove right and accept the unconditional return of UN weapons inspectors to Baghdad.

Q: Can the Arab nation prevent the US from striking Iraq or any other country?

A: Arabs, in fact, exerted earnest efforts to have the US convinced of not striking Iraq which, as I think, has already responded to internationl calls.

Q: Are there any fears that Bush’s list would include other Arab rulers?

A: Rumors are circulating about changing some Arab regimes. I say it is not as simple as they reckon. Arab peoples must have their say regarding changing their regimes. The Iraqi people, in addition, are rightfully entitled to choose their democratically elected leader.

Q: Do you make any contacts with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein?

A: Every now and then we do make contacts with the Iraqi regime through the Egyptian and Iraqi foreign ministers. The Iraqi foreign minister paid a visit to Cairo and I told him that Iraq must comply with the UNSC resolutions, since non-compliance will singal that Iraq does have WMD.

Q: A very thorny issue that knows no end: the Palestinian cause. You said before that Israeli Prime Minister lacked any clear-sighted vision and knew nothing but the jargon of war, which is a fact shared by most Mideast political analysts contrary to the US administration which frequently announced that Israel is a US protégé. Would you give us some insight about the way out of such crisis?

A: It is a common knowledge that the US supports Israel for a long time. We must take this for granted Former Israeli Premier Ehud Barak hammered out Sharm al-Sheikh agreement and put one-third of its content into effect but did not implement the other two-thirds.

   Had the agreement been implemented as a whole, the entire region would have experienced better conditions, no doubt.

   Then Netenyahu assumed power and signed the Wye River agreement in the White House lawn under the patronage of former US President Bill Clinton. Nevertheless, he did not implement but a very little part of it. Had Sharon himself inked any agreement, he will only do so to calm things down but will never live up to his commitments. It is not a matter of signing agreements. Rabin signed and implemented, Netenyahu signed but implemented a little part, Barak signed but came under pressure and did not implement and Sharon will never ever implement a single word.

   The entire world knows the fact that as long as Sharon is in power, nothing will be implemented. We in no way intefere in Israel’s internal affairs. We only care about the peace process whose benefits will accrue to all, the Palestinians and the Israelis.

   The entire region was trapped in a spiral of violence: killings and reprisal operations became routine and innocent people pay the price. They pay the price of wrong-headed policies. Both the Israelis and the Palestinians do make mistakes. However, the Palestinians have nothing to do, they have stones in their hands and the Israelis are relying on their military juggernaut.

   Can you imagine that more martyrdom operations took place during Sharon’s two-year term?

   The Palestinian girl who received her education in the American University blew herself up out of her deep furstration. Comparatively speaking, only six operatins were performed during Barak’s three-year term. The security shield will not provide the much-hoped secuirty aspired by the Israelis. In a nutshell, the two sides must come back to the negotiating table to put an end to the blood pool.

    Q: Is there any plan of action set up by Morocco and Egypt since His Majesty King Mohammad VI heads Al-Quds Committee and considering the pivotal role played by Egypt in the Mideast region?

    A: We, in effect, cooperate with Morocco and other Arab countries. But King Mohammad VI, in his capacity as the head of Al-Quds Committee, has a more crucial role to play. However, the United States, the world’s sole superpower, is the only one which can make Israel listen to reason. World opinion is against Israel and Sharon. Explosions which tore up Israel will go on and on. Terrorism will spread all over world.
   The notorious US sniper is a case in point. The Americans were filled with horror and could not walk down the streets any longer as long as he was hiding at large. The Israelis, by the same token, cannot walk down the street.
   Once upon a time I happened on an Israeli person who told me that shivers of fear ran through his spine when he heard the sound of bullets and could not send his son or daughter out to fetch him something from the supermarket. The incumbent Israeli government is to blame for jeopardizing the stability of the region.

    Q: Mr. President, the US administration receives Sharon but declines to receive Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Does the US policy encourage Shron on keeping up his policies?

    A: Shraon needs no encouragemet from the US administration; he stands ready. It is no secret that Israel is the US closest ally. However, if the US gave him free rein, its interests around the world would be at stake.

    Q: Some Arab countries have good intentions and exert sincere efforts; however, we find that the US administration label the legitmate Palestinian resistance and their inalienable right to self-defence as a kind of terrorism and cow the world into fighting such terrorism. It looks upon Palestinian martyrs as terrorists and Bush insists on putting Arafat and Saddam in one corner. Mr. President do you agree with that?

    A: In fact, we differ with the US administartion vis-à-vis this issue. But the 9/11 terrorist attacks which exacted its heavy toll on the US were beyond our imagination. It is indeed a fierce blow to the US and hurt its pride and forced a new world order.
   Capturing such a golden opportunity, Sharon dubbed the Palestinians as terrorists and took the September 11 attacks as grounds to quash the Palestinians.

    Q: Has the international community done enough to combat global terrorism? In your own view, what are the most crucial weapons in combating such a phenomenon?

    A: The methods pursued now in fighting terrrorism are contemporary. If we want to eliminate such a phenomenon, we must hold an international conference on terrorism that should result in strong and binding resolutions. I cannot imagine that anyone can seek political asylum in a European country after committing a terrorist operation, for instance, in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia or any other country. The international conference should root out terrorism and all countries must joing hands in denying safe haven to terrorists. It is quite unsafe to say that such a conference would serve as a panacea for the problem of terrorism.

    Q: But what is the use of holding international conferecnes if it proved futile Mr. President?

    A: I call for holding an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) with resolutions binding to all countries.

   Q: Arab unity, Mr. President, is still a far-sought dream. It may become something of the past due to threats voiced by some Arab countires such as Libya to withdraw from the pan-Arab organizations. What are the real obstacles in the way of achieving Arab unity in light of the current world conglomerations? When the Arab League was founded in 1945, Arabs called for realizing economic unity to cement the bonds between Arab countries and establishing the Arab Common Market (ACM).
   What about your dream of establishing the ACM Mr. President?

   A: My call for establishing the ACM has fallen on deaf ears. The European countries took the initiative and made a dream come true by establishing the strong European Union (EU).

    Why did not Arabs then establish the ACM?
Because they do not have common interests and I hope that they will realize that the ACM is the only way to reinforce their status. The economic unity must come into fruition and all Arab interests should be melted away in one crucible.
   Q: As regards the Egyptian-Moroccan relations, there is a wide array of untapped potentials held by both countries. Do you expect that such friendly relations will thrive?

    A: Egytian-Moroccan relations are just excellent since late King Hassan II with whom I had had personal friendship. King Hassan and I set up the supreme joint committee. Given the deteritoring sitution in the Middle East the committee was held in abeyance, but Egyptian and Moroccan officials work in tandem to enhance economic and cultural relations. We, God willing, will revive the joint committee headed by the president of Egypt and King of Morocco, so that we can follow up joint ventures and economic relations.

    Q: During your summit meeting with King Mohammad VI, do you intend to set up a date for holding the supreme joint committee?

    A: Definitely. We will also tackle the burning issues at the regional and international arenas and means of boosting bilateral relations.

    Q: Mr. President, my last question, what is your opinion on the issue Moroccan Sahara?

    A: In 1976, late King Hassan II and I took pains to settle such thorny issue between Morocco and Algeria. I think such a problem can be solved under the umbrella of the UN and the parties concerned must display some kind of flexibility to avoid calamities.

    Your Excellency Mr. President, thank you very much indeed