Al Ahram, p.6, (26-2-2007)

Mohamed Othman

The Indian Special Envoy for the Middle East Peace Process: the agreement between Fatah and Hamas is sufficient for lifting blockade on the Palestinian people

C. R. Gharekhan, the Indian Envoy for the Middle East Peace Process expressed his belief that the Mecca Agreement between Fatah and Hamas would represent a new phase in the Palestinian action, emphasizing the agreement was sufficient for lifting economic blockade on the Palestinian people.

In statements to Al Ahram during his visit to Egypt, as part of his tour in the region, Gharekhan asserted the importance of the Egyptian role in enhancing the peace process and reviving negotiations on the Palestinian-Israeli track, indicating the two sides have confidence in Egypt. Regarding his expectations for the coming period in the light of his visit to the region, he mentioned that he heard from Israeli officials that they would be ready to resume negotiations when the circumstances are suitable, emphasizing that the coming Palestinian government will not be a Hamas government and will be a step to facilitate resumption of negotiations. He said, “His country offered assistance worth $15 million to the Palestinians, in addition to other projects those were being established in the Palestinian territory”.

Regarding the Egyptian-Indian relations, Gharekhan praised the bilateral historic relations whose bases were established in the 1950s. He said he felt proud because he had worked as a diplomat at the Indian Embassy in Cairo during that time and because he had met the late president Gamal Abdel Nasser saying: "I love him". He also emphasized his country's interest in the relations with the Gulf country, indicating that about 4 million Indians work there. Replying to a question about whether he thinks his country would be an emerging power in the future, he said, "We are an emerging power, but we have not emerged yet. We have an independent policy. The world conditions have changed and there is only one superpower. We hope the world would not continue as unipolar”, he added. Yet, he noted that he worked as a deputy to Dr. Botros Ghali, former UN secretary-general, and heard from him that, "It is not useful to put the blame on the sole hegemonic power. Other countries should work together to assert themselves".