Egypt Foreign Relations Arab Nations

The ink had barely dried on last month's Arab League decision to allow member states to resume diplomatic ties with Egypt when, with great public fanfare, a high-ranking Egyptian military delegation flew to Kuwait to make a point that it was hoped would not be lost on Iran. Egypt, the unwritten message said, was back in the Arab fold and ready to commit its substantial military resources to the defense of its smaller Persian Gulf allies, should the need arise.

His voice clear and stern, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak went on national television Thursday to lash out at Israel's "inhumane" treatment of the Palestinians. But as he appeared to be building toward a dramatic announcement, jabbing his finger in the air, he instead declared Egypt's commitment to peace--with Israel.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak vowed Saturday to defend Saudi Arabia and other Arab states against any further Iraqi aggression and blasted pro-Iraqi states for accusing Cairo of trying to profit from its pro-Kuwait stance. In a three-hour address at the opening session of Egypt's newly elected Parliament, Mubarak said his country's hard-line stand against the Aug. 2 Iraqi invasion of the oil-rich emirate is based solely on principle.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Friday that if Israel stops building settlements in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, Arab governments should respond by ending their four-decade-old boycott of companies that trade with Israel. "If Israel could suspend the building of settlements in the occupied territories, I believe that the Arab states should make a reciprocal concession by suspending the boycott," Mubarak told reporters after a meeting with Secretary of State James A. Baker III.

The gulf state of Qatar restored diplomatic relations with Egypt on Wednesday, joining eight other Arab countries in ending the isolation imposed after the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty of 1979. Arab countries began resuming relations with Cairo after an Arab League summit last week in Jordan, which left the decision to individual governments. The 21-member league suspended Egypt's membership in 1979.

Kuwait and Morocco, following the lead of the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, restored diplomatic relations with Egypt in a move certain to ease Cairo's isolation in the Arab world. The two nations became the latest to renew ties with Egypt after it was agreed at the Arab League summit last week to let members decide the issue individually.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Friday that if Israel stops building settlements in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, Arab governments should respond by ending their four-decade-old boycott of companies that trade with Israel. "If Israel could suspend the building of settlements in the occupied territories, I believe that the Arab states should make a reciprocal concession by suspending the boycott," Mubarak told reporters after a meeting with Secretary of State James A. Baker III.

Although he had initial misgivings about the deployment of U.S. forces to Saudi Arabia, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has emerged in recent weeks as the most vocal and stalwart Arab supporter of the U.S.-led alliance waging war against Iraq. Besides committing more than 35,000 of its best troops to the war effort, Egypt has taken the lead in holding the Arab component of the alliance together in the face of Iraqi efforts to split it.

Feeling increasingly threatened by Iran, the Arab states of the Persian Gulf have decided, according to diplomats and other officials, to re-establish diplomatic relations with Egypt, the No. 1 military power in the Arab world. "It would have happened sooner or later anyway," but the Iran-Iraq War has acted as a catalyst, one Middle Eastern diplomat said. "Their motive is fear of Iran and the need to find an Arab counterweight to the Iranians."

While the world focuses on the final outcome of the Persian Gulf War and the future of Iraq and Saddam Hussein, Egypt and its burly, stolid President Hosni Mubarak are emerging from the confusion and anxiety of battle as real winners in the region. "Of course Egypt and Mubarak are coming out on top," said a Western diplomat. "With the fighting over and the bargaining beginning over who controls the power in the Arab and Muslim worlds, it's going to be Egypt in the end."

While the world focuses on the final outcome of the Persian Gulf War and the future of Iraq and Saddam Hussein, Egypt and its burly, stolid President Hosni Mubarak are emerging from the confusion and anxiety of battle as real winners in the region. "Of course Egypt and Mubarak are coming out on top," said a Western diplomat. "With the fighting over and the bargaining beginning over who controls the power in the Arab and Muslim worlds, it's going to be Egypt in the end."

Although he had initial misgivings about the deployment of U.S. forces to Saudi Arabia, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has emerged in recent weeks as the most vocal and stalwart Arab supporter of the U.S.-led alliance waging war against Iraq. Besides committing more than 35,000 of its best troops to the war effort, Egypt has taken the lead in holding the Arab component of the alliance together in the face of Iraqi efforts to split it.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak vowed Saturday to defend Saudi Arabia and other Arab states against any further Iraqi aggression and blasted pro-Iraqi states for accusing Cairo of trying to profit from its pro-Kuwait stance. In a three-hour address at the opening session of Egypt's newly elected Parliament, Mubarak said his country's hard-line stand against the Aug. 2 Iraqi invasion of the oil-rich emirate is based solely on principle.

Arab divisions over the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait widened Monday when the foreign ministers of 12 anti-Iraqi nations agreed to move the headquarters of the Arab League back to Cairo next month. Iraq and eight of its supporters boycotted the meeting, and Iraq served notice in advance that it would not recognize the decision of the majority coalition led by Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria.

The Arab League said Saturday that the return of Egypt to the Arab fold is imminent, giving new hope to Arabs at the start of the New Year. The league's secretary general, Chedli Klibi, said the cease-fire in the Iran-Iraq War, progress on the Palestinian question and rapprochement between North African states are other reasons for optimism. "New avenues of hope now lie open before our nation . . .

Secretary of State George P. Shultz, registering the first success of his Middle East shuttle, said Sunday that President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt agrees that the new U.S. peace package is a "promising" one. With Egyptian Foreign Minister Esmat Abdel Meguid standing at his side after a three-hour meeting with Mubarak, Shultz said, "I think I can say we both feel we have a package that is promising."

This nation, which was seen only months ago as taking a commanding role in the Arab world, has been forced onto the defensive. The Arab world's leading radical state has been impoverished by its economy and pushed to the margin by Arab moderates.

This nation, which was seen only months ago as taking a commanding role in the Arab world, has been forced onto the defensive. The Arab world's leading radical state has been impoverished by its economy and pushed to the margin by Arab moderates.

If good things really do come to those who wait, then for Egypt the long period of waiting may soon be over. Officially shunned by most of the Arab world for making peace with Israel and forced by its economic predicament into an ever deeper and, to many Egyptians, humiliating dependence on the United States, Egypt has been sitting on the diplomatic periphery of the Middle East for the past eight years, biding its time and waiting for its luck to change.