Egypt to Host Second Round of Peace Talks
The second round of direct peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians will take place in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Sept. 14-15, the Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
At the relaunching of the talks in Washington on September 2, U.S. mediator George Mitchell said the coming round would be held on those dates in the region, without specifying an exact venue, and that the two sides would meet every two weeks.
"Egypt will host the second round of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh," Egypt's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said in a statement carried by the state news agency MENA.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will lead the negotiations with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attending, Zaki added.
Egypt housing project on track for 500,000 units
A state project aiming to ease Egypt's housing shortage is on track to meet or exceed its goal of providing half a million homes by the end of next year, its chief official said on Wednesday.
The government is spending around 20 billion Egyptian pounds in direct and indirect subsidies on the National Housing Project, started as part of President Hosni Mubarak's 2005 election campaign, Mohamed Galal Sayed el-Ahl said.
The National Housing Project was finalizing the handover or had already delivered to customers a total of 303,000 housing units, Ahl told Reuters in an interview.
“We are in the process of building 215,000 units and, God willing, will finish them by the end of next year,” he said.
Mubarak to Obama: U.S. Needs to Step In & Lend Helping Hand to Bridge Gaps in Peace Process
“Egypt Ready, Willing, Able to Support U.S.” says Egyptian Spokesperson
WASHINGTON – Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak appealed today to Barack Obama to remain fully engaged in the negotiations of the Peace Process that he has launched. President Mubarak met with President Barack Obama, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, D.C. Afterwards, Egyptian Presidential Spokesperson Ambassador Soliman Awaad said that Mubarak hoped the talks would be successful, but urged the U.S. to help bridge the gaps in positions.
“It is not enough to offer a dinner or to give some speeches,” said Awaad. “It will take more than handshakes, smiles, and photo ops to make this long-awaited peace in the Middle East. What is really needed is for the United States to step in, remain committed, remain engaged,… and lend a helping hand to the two parties in order to help bridge the gaps in their positions, sort out their differences.”
Mubarak Spokesman on Middle East Peace Talks
Egyptian presidential spokesman Ambassador Soliman Awaad briefs media following a day of bilateral meetings at the White House on Wednesday, September 1st . Ambassador Soliman Awaad, recapped President Hosni Mubarak's views about the renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks hosted by President Obama this week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas sit for direct negotiations on final status issues at the White House on September 2, 2010.
Remarks by President Mubarak at White House Dinner
Remarks
by H.E Mohamed Hosni Mubarak
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
On the occasion of
Re-launching direct Palestinian Israeli negotiations
Washington DC, September 1st 2010
(Unofficial Translation)
------
President Barack Obama
Majesty King Abdullah the Second
President Mahmoud Abbas
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Mr. Tony Blair
I am pleased to participate with you today in re-launching direct peace negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis. Like you, and the millions of Palestinians, Israelis, Arabs and the rest of the world, I look forward that these negotiations be final and decisive, and that they lead to a peace agreement within one year.
Our meeting today would not have taken place without the considerable effort exerted by the American administration under the leadership of President Obama. I pay tribute to you, Mr. President, for your personal serious commitment and for your determination to work for a peaceful settlement of the Question of Palestine since the early days of your presidency. I appreciate your perseverance throughout the past period to overcome the difficulties facing the re-launching of the negotiations. I consider this invitation a manifestation of your commitment and a significant message that the United States will shepherd these negotiations seriously and at the highest level.
No one realizes the value of peace more than those who have known wars and their havoc. It was my destiny to witness over many events in our region in war and peace years. I have gone through wars and hostilities and have participated in the quest for peace since the first days. I have never spared an effort to push it forward. And I still look forward to its success and completion.
A Peace Plan Within Our Grasp: President Mubarak's New York Times Op-Ed
It’s been 10 long years since the Palestinians and Israelis last came close to establishing a permanent peace, in January 2001 at Taba in Egypt. During my career in the Egyptian Air Force, I saw the tragic toll of war between the Arabs and Israel. As president of Egypt, I have endured many ups and downs in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Egypt’s decision to be the first Arab state to make peace with Israel claimed the life of my predecessor, Anwar el-Sadat. Ever since the day in 1981 that I witnessed his assassination by extremists, I have tried to turn the dream of a permanent peace in the Middle East into a reality.
Now, after a nearly two-year hiatus in direct negotiations, we are opening yet another chapter in this long history. Many claim that this new round of talks — which begins with meetings between President Obama; Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel; the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas; King Abdullah of Jordan; and myself here on Wednesday — is doomed to fail like all the others.
However, President Obama’s determined involvement has revived our hopes for peace and we must seize this opportunity. The broad parameters of a permanent Palestinian-Israeli settlement are already clear: the creation of a Palestinian state in the territories occupied by Israel in 1967 with Jerusalem as a capital for both Israel and Palestine. Previous negotiations have already resolved many of the details on the final status of refugees, borders, Jerusalem and security.
EGYPTIAN PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON TO BRIEF PRESS ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE TALKS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2010
CONTACT:
Lindsay Mize
(202) 285-9005
info@modernegypt.info
*****MEDIA ADVISORY*****
EGYPTIAN PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON TO BRIEF PRESS ON
MIDDLE EAST PEACE TALKS
Washington – Following a day of bilateral meetings at the White House on Wednesday, September 1st , Ambassador Soliman Awaad, the spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency, will brief the media in English on President Hosni Mubarak’s views about the renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks hosted by President Obama this week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will sit for direct negotiations on final status issues at the White House on Thursday, September 2.
Announcing the re-launched direct negotiations, Secretary Clinton noted that President Obama invited President Mubarak of Egypt because of his “critical role in this effort” and that his “continued leadership and commitment to peace will be essential to our success.”
Egypt has a long history of working towards a solution for peace between Israel and the Palestinian people. Recently, Egypt has worked to negotiate a two-state solution and has also tried to broker a durable cease-fire between Hamas and Israel.
For more information, visit www.modernegypt.info.
Middle East Peace Process Media Briefing
Ambassador Soliman Awaad, Official Spokesperson for the Presidency
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
5:15 PM
Chandelier Room, St. Regis Hotel
923 16th and K Streets NW
Washington, D.C.
RSVP: info@modernegypt.info
###
This material is distributed by Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter & Associates on behalf of the Egyptian Press and Information Office. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice.
President Mubarak meets with French President Sarkozy in Paris
Reuters
August 30, 2010
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak urged Europe on Monday to throw its weight behind U.S.-led efforts to secure a peace agreement between Palestinians and Israelis.
Mubarak, whose country in 1979 became the first Arab state to strike a peace deal with Israel, discussed the matter with French President Nicolas Sarkozy before heading to Washington this week for the first direct negotiations in 20 months.
"The American administration needs strong backing from the European Union for the peace process to continue," he said.
Secretary Clinton Announces Middle East Peace Talks in Washington, President Mubarak to Join
Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to resume direct negotiations for the first time in 20 months, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have been invited to Washington on September 2 to start the talks.
They have agreed to place a one-year time limit on the direct negotiations.
Speaking at the State Department, Clinton said President Barack Obama had been encouraged by the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas, and had invited them to Washington to "relaunch direct negotiations to resolve all final status issues, which we believe can be completed within one year".
"President Obama has invited President Mubarak of Egypt and King Abdullah of Jordan to attend, in view of their critical role in this effort. Their continued leadership and commitment to peace will be essential to our success," she added.
Egypt Investing in Broadband Infrastructure
Daily News Egypt
August 19, 2010
CAIRO: Egypt recently allocated $1 billion to invest in broadband internet infrastructure, with the goal of boosting internet subscribers by 4 million come 2014, according to a Euromonitor International report issued in July.
The report, “Egypt broadband investment to fuel internet usage,” explains that “improved access to computers, especially amongst higher earners, has caused the number of broadband subscribers to increase more than tenfold from 2004 to 2009, rising from 141,100 to 1.5 million.”