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Monday, April 27, 1998
Following is the text of President Mubarak’s interview with the American TV network NBC, April 27, 1998 Interviewer: Matt Lauer, Co Host, NBC Today Show Lauer: I have to be very honest. When I told people I was coming to Egypt, some said: it is dangerous. Is it safe for tourists in this country right now? Mubarak: You could walk anywhere in the country. Anywhere. We have less (Inaudible) than you have in the United States and than any other place in Europe and other countries. Terrorism is an international phenomenon. This is not in Egypt alone. It is in Europe. It is in the United States. Lauer: Except the difference, I think, Mr. President, is that you have a group here that has vowed to try to destroy tourism in this country, and they killed 56 people at Luxor. What is to say they won’t strike again? Mubarak: It could happen not only in Egypt, but anywhere. Look what's going on in so many other countries. But I said in so many speeches the whole world should cooperate in fighting terrorism. This is going to spread everywhere, especially in the Middle East, if the peace does not move forward. Lauer: Mr. President, it appears we come at a very important time in the Middle East. There seems to be a lot of activity behind the scenes. You are the most important Arab Leader in the world. What is happening around? Mubarak: Concerning the Middle East problem, I think now it is nearly frozen. No activity. No progress for the last three years. So I think I am going to meet with the prime minister, Mr. Netanyahu, on Tuesday. I hope that we could find something to put the peace process a little bit forward at least. Lauer: Is there a deadline? Mubarak: I can not say a deadline, but the freezing of the peace process is creating a very bad atmosphere, day after day. Lauer: let me go back to Prime Minister Netanyahu for a second. You were quoted recently in an Israeli newspaper as saying: "I have met with him several times, and until today, all I got from him were promises. Nothing was ever carried out. "Do you think he is still sincere about wanting peace? Mubarak: I have no problem... there’s no problem between Egypt and Israel as two countries. But the problem is a security in the whole area. We are trying hard. I was ready to help him sincerely, but he should give us some material to use it for the Palestinians, for the Syrians, for the Lebanese and so on. Lauer: You mentioned the Palestinians. Yasser Arafat. You and he have talked quite often. There are some people in Israel who are concerned that he has not delivered the type of security that Israel is need to make peace, even though he is cracked down on Hamas. Do you think he could do more ? Mubarak: Let us be realistic. Could the Prime Minister of Israel or the government of Israel maintain security 100% in Israel ? Lauer: So Mr Arafat is doing every thing he can, in your opinion ? Mubarak: I think he cannot do more than that. If you ask him to do more than that, that means he should put all his people in jail. Lauer: As you know, in our country, Saddam Hussien is often viewed as either a mad man or some thing similar. You have known him for more than 20 years. Do you trust him ? Mubark: I cannot say I trust him. I trust him whenever he complies with the resolutions. Lauer: If Saddam Hussein does not live up to his end of the deal, could you support a military strike by the United States or its allies ? Mubarak: We cannot prevent the United States from any military strikes, but our role is to try. Lauer: At this moment in time, President Mubarak, how optimistic are you that, there can be peace in this region ? Mubarak: Now I’m, by nature, very optimistic. I never lose hope .. never lose hope. |
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