Islamic Conference Leader Says Arab and Moslem Countries Are Prepared to Reconcile Israel As Part of

Habib Chabbi, Secretary General of the Islamic Conference which represents 42 Moslem countries, said today that all Arab and Moslem countries are prepared to recognize Israel as part of a global and just peace. He also stressed that practically all of his organization’s member states favor the basic principles of the Saudi Arabian peace plan presented last August by Crown Prince Fahd.

Chatti, addressing a press conference, said “All the concessions come from our (Islamic) side. Even (Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasir) Arafat said yesterday in Tokyo that the Palestinians are prepared to recognize Israel under a simultaneous recognition between them and the Jewish State.” Chatti said that the PLO is prepared to negotiate on the basis of the Fahd plan.

The eight-point Saudi peace proposal basically provides for the creation of a Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories and the setting up of a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem in exchange for Israel’s recognition by the Arab states and a peace agreement.

SAYS EGYPT WILLING TO BACK FAHD’S PLAN

Egypt’s Deputy Foreign Minister Boutros Ghalli said last night that Egypt is prepared to “enthusiastically back the Fahd peace plan if Israel, the Palestinians and the Americans would favor such a solution.” Ghalli, who appeared on French Television, stressed, however, that the Fahd plan, even if adopted by all the interested parties would not replace the Camp David agreements but serve as “a parallel peace process.”

The Egyptian Minister also reiterated President-elect Hosni Mubarak’s promise that Cairo will honor all its peace commitments and strive for a continuation of the peace process. Ghalli said “the negotiations (on Palestinian autonomy) might be slow but we shall proceed according to plan and to our commitments and will eventually succeed.”