Military

DATE=10/21/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=EGYPT/MUBARAK (L O)

NUMBER=2-282083

BYLINE=GREG LAMOTTE

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak says he does not believe the U-S-led war on terrorism will spread to targets in the Middle East. VOA's Greg LaMotte reports from Cairo, the Egyptian leader made the remark in interviews marking his 20 years in office.

TEXT: In an interview with the widely-respected

weekly Egyptian magazine al Mussawar, Mr. Mubarak says, Washington "will not transfer the war in

Afghanistan to the Middle East." He adds, "Libya, Syria and Lebanon will not be punished by the United States," for allegedly providing safe havens for terrorist organizations. The Egyptian president says "no punishment will reach these countries as a result of the September 11th attacks in the United States."

Mr. Mubarak says he has told President Bush that "any attack involving a Middle East country would produce grave results, that would seriously complicate the situation throughout the Middle East."

The Egyptian President says if the issue of the Palestinians could only be resolved, "terrorists would have no more motives or justification to practice violence." In his view, "the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is causing 80 percent of terrorism in the world today."

Mr. Mubarak told the American magazine, Newsweek, that Egypt would be the first to applaud if the United States captures suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden, accused of masterminding the attacks in the United States.

Abdullah al Ash'al is a political analyst in Egypt and expert on Arab affairs. He says Mr. Mubarak, who has given numerous interviews over the past several weeks, is trying to appease the anger of Egyptians toward the United States and Israel, while telling Washington not to link terrorism with the Palestinian fight against Israeli occupation.

///ACT AL ASH'AL///

This is a very rare position that President Mubarak is finding himself in. President Mubarak is trying to show himself as an adviser to the West and also expressing the interests of the area and he wants to tell the United States: don't mix terrorism with the legitimate acts of the people of the area. He thinks that Hezbollah and the Palestinian organizations are fighting Israeli occupation. They are not fighting Israel, as such.

///end act///

Mr. Mubarak blame Egyptians returning from Afghanistan's war with Russia for escalating terrorism in Egypt.

Mr. al Ash'al says President Mubarak is now speaking to the world as an expert on terrorism, while at the same time using his platform to represent the interests of Egypt.

///ACT AL ASH'AL///

I feel Hosni Mubarak is trying to be very close to the causes of the people, and to be a statesman while defending the interests of the Egyptian people.

///END ACT///

Mr. Mubarak says Egypt's all-out war on terrorism since 1991 has been a success. Also, he says raising the standard of living of Egyptians has helped -- as he puts it -- "to douse the flames that contribute to hatred."

The Egyptian president told Newsweek Magazine terrorism cannot be stopped altogether, but it can be considerably lessened if Middle East peace moves are successful. (signed)

NEB/GLM/DW/FC