Jul
27
Mitchell remains in Egypt marathon tour for comprehensive peace inMiddle East
Mitchell arrived in Cairo from Israel, according to airport sources, after holding in the capital hours before Syria discussions frank and positive with the Syrian president, Bachar Assad and later to the Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak in Tel Aviv.
United States is determined to achieve a comprehensive peace in the Middle East that includes Israel and Palestine, Israel and Syria, Israel and Lebanon as well as normal relations with all countries of the region , Mitchell said after the meeting with Barak in Tel Aviv.
It's personal vision of the U.S. president, Barack Obama, he added, according to a ministry that summoned him.
Mitchell then traveled to Cairo in the evening to interview on Monday with the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak.
Egypt conducts a mediation under the dialogue between rival Palestinian movements Hamas and Fatah in search of a government of national unity.
But Egypt also half between Israel and Hamas (the Palestinian Islamists in power in the Gaza Strip) about the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, captured in 2006.
Hours before arriving in Israel, Mitchell had met in Damascus with the Syrian president, Bachar Assad to with who discussed the prospects for progress towards (their) goal, a comprehensive peace in the region and to improve relations between United States and Syria.
I informed Assad that the President (U.S., Barack) Obama was determined to provide (the establishment) of a genuine Israeli-Arab peace and global, between Palestinians and Israelis, between Syria and Israel and between Lebanon and Israel, he added.
After all, United States wishes to reach a full normalization of relations between Israel and all countries of the region, added Mitchell, who arrived in Damascus on Saturday night from Abu Dhabi, first stage of a new tour in the region.
The envoy should meet on Monday in Ramallah (West Bank) with Mahmud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, and then on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister , Benjamin Netanyahu.
Two United States officials are expected in these days in Middle East: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and National Security Advisor of President Obama, James Jones.
Obama administration began diplomatic contacts with Syria cautious after a long period of tense relations between Damascus and Washington, as part of its efforts to promote peace between Israel and its neighbors.
On Syria and Israel, our next goal is to relaunch the negotiations, said Mitchell.
A comprehensive peace is the only way to ensure stability, security and prosperity to all countries in the region, said the emissary, who made his second visit to Syria since mid-June.
In May 2008, Syria and Israel launched indirect peace talks through Turkey. These negotiations were suspended last December after the Israeli army offensive in the Gaza Strip.
And the new Israeli government of Netanyahu rejected a request from Syria for Israel to return the plateau of the Golan occupied since 1967 and annexed in 1981.
For his part, Assad reiterated U.S. emissary to the willingness of Damascus to recover the occupied Arab lands through a just and Overall based on international resolutions and the principle of exchanging land against peace.