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To: Yarek Szolomicki who wrote (713)	1/14/2000 3:09:00 PM
From: Yarek Szolomicki	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 864

Mubarak: Toshka project among national priorities Egypt, Politics, 12/21/99 On whether Toshka project will be neglected or has been found worthless, President Mubarak said Toshka is great and excellent venture but we all have to realize and remember that it is a long-term project not todayûs project, Northwest Suez also is an excellent venture and we are determined to establish northwest of Suez also a special zone, a free trade zone with its own law which will encourage Egyptian, Arab and foreign investors. Returning to Toshka President Mubarak said there is a mistaken view of dimensions of the current phase during which we fix priorities of national action and redistribute expenditure on projects in order not to squander public financial allocation. In short, we are containing expenditure in the state in order to save as much funds as possible to direct them to priorities of national action and Toshka falls within this context. To be more clear, Toshka coming with in this framework means that Toshka , fundamentally is an irreversible venture as action has in fact started there and we cannot let money spent on the project- to go down the drain, although no tremendous sums have been spent there as some imagine, he added. President Mubarak said, "the private sector is now working in Toshka, money is invested there and there is no backtracking or else the loss will be great." He stressed that Toshka project is very important to Egypt , studies for this project started in the sixties, were again debated in the seventies and now is the nineties the project is under construction. Toshka is a new wide valley, fit for cultivation, President Mubarak said referring that he was looking for a great agricultural project which realizes food security for Egypt. Major companies are now working in the southern valley in Toshka, digging canals and paving and cultivating lands, President Mubarak said stressing that Toshka is an irrevocable, long-term agricultural project. President Mubarak also underlined the importance of the north-south Suez project as well as that of Shark El-Tafria (East Port Said) project. "These Mega projects are calmly but firmly carried out as we know exactly where to invest our financial resources," he said. President Mubarak denied that there is excess in expenditures in unstudied projects. The size of expenditures was defined according to the priorities of projects. "Curbing expenditure is the prime issue at present discussed and great concentration, is focused on the mega projects on condition that they yield great income so as to promote Egypt's economy," he stressed. President Mubarak also referred to a number of procedures which will be undertaken by the government including curing expenditures, covering the government needs of local produced vehicles and determining the specifications of importation. The President also called for exploiting all human and material resources and wealth noting, that directives are given to the government to proceed in this direction. President Mubarak said Egypt possesses vast amounts of natural gas and that important projects will be carried out to exploit and export this vital wealth. President Mubarak also urged for brushing aside bureaucracy as doors are open before Egypt thanks to its good relations with all world countries. On the next elections, President Mubarak referred to the need to widen representation regarding opposition, woman, Christians, or scientists and said he is the most keen on achieving such a representation that reflects a good image of the homeland. "Anyway I am more concerned over behavior during election process than over the issue of representation," the President said. Concluding, President Mubarak said he had given strict directives that there must be no interference by the administration in elections in the interest of a certain candidate. He cited as a proof of this that a large number of members of the National Democratic Party were not nominated by the party which nominated others to run in elections in the NDP name. "Those whom the party did not choose, ran in the elections as independent candidate and won the seat against those chosen by the party a matter that proves the noninterference of the administration," he said. But he noted that what is deplorable is the behavior witnessed during election process, the violence which is rejected, coming to blows, using knives, gun shots, and squandering money, a really unfortunate and regrettable behavior. The President voiced hope that the next elections be held in a better atmosphere without any interference from the administration, without violence or excesses. Minister of Information Safwat al Sherif said the first session of Egyptian Saudi talks tacked Arab developments progress of the peace process and resumption of talks between Syria and Israel. Sherif said the two sides stressed the importance of achieving a just and comprehensive peace that guarantees all legitimate rights of the Arab peoples. Previous Stories: Phone calls between Mubarak and Sheikh Zayed 12/20/99 Saudi, Egyptian and Syrian summit nearby 12/20/99 Mubarak in Doha after concluding visit to Riyadh 12/20/99