Egyptian, Saudi, Syrian Foreign Ministers to Meet in Damascus within two Weeks

Published April 30th, 2000 - 03:00 GMT

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Mussa said Saturday that a meeting on Arab-Israeli peace with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and Syria should take place in Damascus within the next two weeks.

"Fixing a date is under way now and it could take place during this week or the next week," Mussa told reporters in response to a question about the meeting with Syria's Faruq Shara and Saudi Arabia's Prince Saud al-Faisal.

Mussa, responding to journalists who asked him about the meeting, called by Syria, said it would be of paramount importance because it would tackle various aspects of the peace process and Arab-Arab coordination.

The minister said Cairo would follow up closely on the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, due to resume in Eilat Sunday. He affirmed that the Palestinians have refused any delay in pondering vital issues such as status of Jerusalem, the refugees and the settlements. The foreign minister indicated that the Palestinians were against any Israeli bid to shelve topics out of concern on future of the peace process.

On the Israelis' rejection of the proclamation of an independent state on September 13, Mussa said this issue "has been approved by every body and it is difficult to derail it."

"That would serve neither the Palestinian track, nor the peace process, nor the negotiating process itself, nor the goal of establishing a definitive peace," Mussa said – (Agencies)