Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said on Thursday defended a recent meeting President Hosni Mubarak’s political advisor, Osama Al Baz, and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, saying it was in the interest of the Palestinian cause.
Questioned by journalists on press reports that Baz met Peres secretly in Cyprus on Friday, Maher said "the contacts that Baz has carried out are part of the Egyptian contacts with a number of parties aimed at restarting peace negotiations and arriving at a lasting and overall peace," AFP said.
"Egyptian relations with Israel are directed at using this diplomatic channel to help the Palestinian cause and the Arab world and to promote the peace process," the Egyptian minister said.
"The Palestinian side is aware of these contacts and is happy with them," he said, adding that "nobody has a right of veto on Egypt's contacts."
Israeli television reported Saturday that Peres and Baz had held a secret meeting, without specifying the date or location of the meeting.
Meanwhile, Maher denied that there were new peace initiatives aimed at halting the unrest in the Occupied Territories, said Al Ahram daily.
“There are no new initiatives,” he said, adding that Egypt is currently making intensive contacts with several Arab countries, the US, the EU and Russia to contain the situation – Albawaba.com
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