07 June 2010

Biden, Egypt’s Mubarak Discuss New Approaches to Gaza

 

Biden also urged Egypt to implement its commitments to the U.N. Human Rights Council.

Biden also urged Egypt to implement its commitments to the U.N. Human Rights Council.

By Stephen Kaufman
Staff Writer

Washington — Vice President Biden said the United States is consulting with Egypt and other countries on new ways to address the situation in Gaza, and he urged progress in the proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinians as a step toward peaceful resolution of the Middle East conflict through a two-state solution.

In a June 7 statement released in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, after his meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Biden said the United States “recognizes and appreciates Egypt’s leadership” in support of a comprehensive peace in the region.

“The status quo is unsustainable for all sides,” Biden said. “It is vital to make progress in the proximity talks between Israelis and Palestinians to enable the parties to move to direct negotiations as soon as possible.”

The vice president said the United States is “consulting closely with Egypt, as well as our other partners, on new ways to address the humanitarian, economic, security and political aspects of the situation in Gaza.”

Biden also said the Obama administration will continue its dialogue with Egypt concerning the country’s ongoing political and economic reform efforts.

“Elements such as respect for human rights and the need to continue working for a vibrant civil society and more open political competition are vital for Egypt to remain strong and serve as a model to the region,” he said.

Egypt was recently elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council and was reviewed under the council’s Universal Periodic Review mechanism, which periodically reviews the human rights record of all 192 U.N. member states.

Biden said President Mubarak’s administration had made commitments as part of the review, including accepting some of the council’s recommendations.

“These commitments are important, and I encourage Egypt to move ahead swiftly to implement fully those commitments and build upon that agenda,” he said.

The vice president said he and Mubarak also discussed their concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and Iran’s continued noncompliance with the U.N. Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as its unwillingness to seriously engage with the five permanent Security Council members and Germany, collectively known as the P5+1.

“The United States remains committed to a diplomatic resolution to these serious issues, but we will continue to hold Iran accountable for its continued violations of its international responsibilities, in accordance with our dual-track policy,” Biden said. He said he expects to see U.N. Security Council activity over the issue “very soon.” He added that the United States is also concerned about Iran’s support for Hezbollah and Hamas, which have both been designated by the State Department as terrorist organizations.

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)