Egyptian Vice President Hosni Moubarak told a Mooriv correspondent in Cairo that Premier Menachem Begin’s visit to Egypt was the first of many expected contacts between Egyptian and Israeli high-level officials.
“Prime Minister Menachem Begin’s visit to Cairo constitutes the first stage of high level contacts between Israel and Egypt which can. be expected in the future, Moubarak said. “Their objective is twofold to activate the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt and to lay the groundwork for autonomy in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.”
The Vice President stressed that during Begin’s visit, the Egyptians and Israelis exchanged many “constructive” ideas about the implementation of autonomy. He added that it was best to leave aside the harsh response of the other Arab states to the Egyptian-Israeli peace negotiations, at least for the present, noting, however, that “You have no reason to be worried by it because we ourselves are not concerned.”
He said in that connection, “We are used to such a situation, and we do not fear the response of other Arab states.” Moubarak listed the various agreements and steps taken by the Egyptians in the past to which the Arab world had voiced opposition. “We are fortunate that Egypt is presently led by a great and courageous man,” he said.
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