Mubarak appeal By Nevine Khalil REFLECTING Egypt's growing impatience with Israeli policies President Hosni Mubarak yesterday appealed to the Israeli people "to take a stand appropriate to the... situation and the grave consequences that will result if the peace process collapses or reaches a dead end." In a 45-minute speech marking the 46th anniversary of the 23 July 1952 Revolution and the conclusion of the ruling National Democratic Party's seventh Congress, Mubarak issued a similar appeal to "peace loving parties all over the world to continue their support for peace and to double their efforts in order to remove the obstacles facing this process." He also warned that, should any incident break out in the volatile Middle East region, "it will have serious and wide-ranging consequences for the rest of the world." At the beginning of his speech, Mubarak praised the 1952 Revolution led by late President Gamal Abdel-Nasser, saying that the army officers who carried out the revolt reflected the demands and feelings of the majority of Egyptians at that time. He said that no one could deny the role of nationalist Egyptian leaders before 1952 in fighting for independence, but he also rejected arguments by those who claim that the situation before 1952 was "rosy". "If the situation before 1952 was as rosy as some people allege, the Revolution would not have taken place, and it would not have enjoyed that amount of wide public support." The NDP leader said the ruling party's congress had been convened at a critical moment and that as the new millennium approaches, members will have to exert more efforts in preparing Egyptians for the challenges of the modern age. The government, for its part, has already started preparing for the coming century by launching several mega-projects including the development of areas beyond the Nile Valley and, for the first time in Egypt's history, delivering Nile water to the Sinai Peninsula through Al-Salam Canal. Combined, such projects will provide Egypt with one million hectares of cultivated land, Mubarak said. The government is also working on improving health and education and has established several industrial projects in order to create jobs all over Egypt, but particularly in the south. Mubarak also emphasised the "important role" Egyptian women have been playing in development plans, "hand in hand and on an equal basis with men." (photos: Hassan Diab)
