Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher on Wednesday underlined the need for speedy political moves following Israeli-Palestinian security arrangements, indicating the “impossibility” of separating political and security considerations, according to the official Kuwait news agency (KUNA).
Maher’s remarks came at a meeting with editors of Egyptian dailies, said the agency.
“It would be illegal to expect regional tranquility under the continued policy of closure, construction of settlements and banning Palestinians from moving from one area to another,” he said.
The minister said that he expected political moves to ease the suffering of Palestinians now being caused by “Israel's brutal practices.”
Asked about UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s Middle East tour, Maher said that the visit aimed at supporting efforts to end the difficult conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Cairo was the first leg of Annan's tour, which also includes Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories.
He held talks with President Hosni Mubarak on the latest situation and ways to halt the conflict in the Palestinian territories.
Later Wednesday, he arrived in Damascus where he held talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq Shara. He is due to hold talks with Syrian President Bashar Ala Assad on Thursday before he departs for Lebanon – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
