Mubarak to Obama: Israel Must 'Forget Temporary Solutions'

Path to Peace Clear; "We Don't Need More Literature" says Egyptian
Spokesperson

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak pressured the U.S. not to accept any "temporary solutions" by Israel
in negotiating Middle East peace. During a State Visit at the White House on
Tuesday, President Mubarak asked U.S. President Barack Obama to "move to the
final status solution" on a Palestinian state.

Mubarak said of Israel: "I told them forget about a temporary solution and
forget about temporary borders." The Egyptian President indicated that the
moment for peace is now, saying "we cannot afford to waste more time because
violence will increase."

"The two presidents agreed that time is of essence," said Presidential
Spokesperson Ambassador Soliman Awaad in a press briefing after the White
House visit. Referencing a multitude of previous peace plans, Mubarak told
Obama more literature on peace was not needed, according to Awaad. President
Mubarak asked the U.S. to "declare a plan to achieve peace in the Middle East"
and encouraged President Obama not to start from scratch. The Egyptian
Spokesperson said a move to final status talks on a Palestinian state will
require risks and "courage from all parties."

During the White House meeting, President Mubarak said that full normalization
with Israel will come when there is full peace. According to his
spokesperson, President Mubarak indicated to the U.S. President that an
Israeli moratorium on settlements, including natural growth, would be a
positive step.

Awaad told U.S. and Egyptian media that Egypt is exerting all efforts to
strike a deal to swap Israeli and Palestinian prisoners. "This could be part
of confidence building measures between Israel and Arab states."

The two Presidents discussed a wide range of regional issues at today's
meeting, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan and
Somalia. In remarks after the meeting, President Obama thanked Egypt "for
being an Arab country that has moved forward to try to strengthen Iraq as it
emerges from a wartime footing and a transition to a more stable democracy"
and called President Mubarak "a friend of the U.S." and a "leader in the
region."

President Mubarak said Egypt supports the efforts of the United States to move
towards finding a solution for peace in the Middle East and thanked President
Obama "for all his efforts with regard to the Palestinian issue." Mubarak
also said President Obama's address in Cairo in June had "removed all doubts
about the United States and the Muslim world."

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.

SOURCE Egyptian Press and Information Office

Karim A. Haggag of the Egyptian Press and Information Office, +1-202-667-3402,
info@modernegypt.info