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17:01 GMT
VIENNA, Nov 26 (KUNA) -- Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa called on
the U.S. here Friday to play greater role in the peace process between the
Israelis and Palestinians in what leads to achieving peace in the Middle East
region.
The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation Radio and Television quoted Moussa as
saying that following twenty years of launching the peace process the search
should start for other alternatives for resolving the existing conflict
between the Israelis and Palestinians as such process failed and will not be
bear fruits in the future.
Moussa also noted that Arab countries are not ready for a similar waiting
period, according to his own expression.
Regarding the proposed alternatives for the Arab-Israeli conflict, Moussa
urged the U.S. to put forward a comprehensive peace plan that outlines the
rights entitled to both Israelis and Palestinians along with determining the
main issues like borders, the partitioning of Jerusalem and the return of
refugees and matters related to the Syrian Golan Heights and Lebanon.
Consequently, he added that the U.S. afterwards should call on the sides of
the conflict to negotiate within this predetermined framework.
Answering a question on the causes behind the U.S. administration's
abstention from floating such plan up till now, Moussa said that, "you should
pose this question to the U.S. administration, and not the Arab League
Secretary General.
In case of the failure of the U.S. efforts, Moussa proposed another
alternative that provides for pushing the file back to the United Nations
Security Council as it is the body responsible for protecting peace and
security in the world, expressing in the meantime his real concern on the U.S.
possible use of veto right in order to thwart such step.
On the USD 3-bln U.S. financial aid to Israel that aims to prompt the
latter to halt its settlement activities for a three-month period, Moussa
termed Washington's policy in this regard as "mistaken", and does not serve
the peace process at any rate.
On his own political ambitions in Egypt and whether he intends to run for
the presidential elections due next year like former director general of the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohammed Al-Baradie, Moussa said
that a period of twenty years in which he served as Egyptian Foreign Minister
and Secretary General of the Arab League is enough to make him wrap up his
political career with the end of his last term in the Arab League.
Consquently, he does not intend to run for the upcoming presidential
elections, though he expressed in the meantime his hope for such elections to
run transparently and according to the constitution.
Moussa and Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger held a meeting to
exchange views following their joint inauguration last Wednesday the functions
of the first Arab-European Youth Leaders Forum.
The meeting touched on the latest developments in the Middle East as well
as reviewing the efforts made by the Arab League in order to get out the
negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)
out of their current impasse.
Moussa also knew the European and Austrian stances on the matter, and their
insistence on intensifying cooperation with the Arab League.
Finally, the two top officials expressed hope that Israel will extend its
settlements freeze in order to help resume the negotiations soon with renewed
enthusiasm and fervor. (end).
amq.aff
KUNA 262001 Nov 10NNNN