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| Violation of Camp David Accord | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 14 2014, 12:37 AM (363 Views) | |
| C.E | Oct 14 2014, 12:37 AM Post #1 |
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Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Esteemed delegates, Following intense legal evaluation and security assessment, I have been tasked with addressing the planned Saudi-Egypt Causeway. I must admit that it came to a somewhat surprise to Jerusalem that the Egyptian Government has accepted Suadi Arabia’s proposal for a causeway. Especially noting the staunch Saudi Arabian opposition to General al-Sisi ascension to power, the Wahhabi regime in Riyadh was commonly known to support Muhammad Morsi and the quasi terrorist organization: Muslim Brotherhood. However the causeway itself infringes on the stipulations of the Camp David Accord, which lays emphasises on the right of freedom of navigation through the Strait of Tiran. Article V stipulates that “'the Parties consider the Strait of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba to be international waterways open to all nations for unimpeded and non-suspendable freedom of navigation and overflight. The Parties will respect each other's right to navigation and overflight for access to either country through the Strait of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba'." The position of Israel is that the planned causeway not only is in direct violation of the Camp David Accords but that it will also become a security problem for shipping traffic in the strait purposed entering Israel and Jordan. Further it could have fatal consequences to the marine environment and coral reefs in the Red Sea. Such damage could have a knock-on effect on tourism, something that is vital for the Egyptian economy. Further to matters concerning the Camp David Accord, we remind the Egyptian delegation that thorough coordination with Jerusalem in regards to military matters on Sinai is a necessity. We will not allow military build-up on Sinai without prior consent. That said, Israel is willing to solve this matter diplomatically, understanding the cordial relations that we hold with Cairo and thus, we await a formal response from the Egyptian delegation? Thank you. |
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| Shadows | Oct 16 2014, 11:44 AM Post #2 |
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Sameh Hassan Shoukry Minister of Foreign Affairs The currently planned causeway between Egypt and Saudi Arabia represents a significant component of my governments long term economic plan. The benefits of ease of travel between Egypt and Saudi Arabia represents tremendous potential for trade, as well as the potential for our people to complete the Hajj with more ease than currently. As such, we can not and will not halt the project at this time. However, in the interests of continuing relations with the Israeli government, my government is willing to host Israeli construction experts who can directly evaluate the possible issues that the causeway will present to transit throughout the process, in order to ensure that Israel's right to free transit through the straits are not impeded. Let me also state, that the causeway will be designed to ensure the free flow of sea traffic beneath it, and it will in no way be utilized to prevent transit. Additionally, I'm sure that the Saudi Arabian government agrees with me, that all precautions to ensure the fragile ecosystem within the area will be minimally impacted. Finally, I question where the assumption that a military build up will occur due to this cause way, or other projects, is coming from. The Egyptian military currently has no official plans to move into the Sinai Penninsula in the near future, and were any plans to develop, the government of Israel and our mutual ally, the United States, would be informed from the onset. |
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| C.E | Oct 17 2014, 12:00 AM Post #3 |
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Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs It is not the intention of Israel to oppose Egyptian economic development. However as Israel opposed this matter in 2012, we had hoped that the new Egyptian government had addressed the Israeli concerns prior to engaging a contract. A contract may I add that could end up in the ICJ, if Israel decides to commence on the legal path. It therefore concerns me, that Cairo outright refuses to address Israel's concerns. The fact is that the Causeway contradicts stipulations in the Camp David Accord as stated earlier thoroughly states that "unimpeded and non-suspendable freedom of navigation" and that Israel remains to regard this as a breach of these Accords. Is Cairo to proceed prior to have clarification and alignment on this matter? |
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| Shadows | Oct 17 2014, 08:26 AM Post #4 |
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Sameh Hassan Shoukry Minister of Foreign Affairs I believe the issues lie in a difference of perspective. To the Egyptian government, the Causeway does not impede your ability to transit through the strait. That was never the programs intention and never will be. The causeway is designed to permit the free flow of traffic, not to prevent it. As for our refusal to address your concerns... we do understand this concerns your government. We have even offered to host construction experts so that you can ensure the design of the causeway will not, in fact, prevent the transit of any current or foreseeable future vessels. We are willing to include the Israeli concerns in the plan and hope to alleviate them. However, the causeway is a critical component of my government's economic development plan, one that we are not willing to simply drop. |
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| C.E | Oct 19 2014, 02:00 PM Post #5 |
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Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Thank you once more for addressing our concerns. While I am no Construction Engineer could you kindly explain; how a causeway does not infringe on freedom of navigation? I mean a commercial tanker can only enter under the proposed causeway at one or maybe two specific point, correct? Meaning the project as likely to infringe on freedom of navigation at certain areas in the Strait of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba. |
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| Wakizashi | Oct 20 2014, 03:01 AM Post #6 |
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Rafael Ramirez Minister of People's Power for Foreign Affairs It is the Arab Republic of Egypt's and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's sovereign right to choose wether or not to engage in intensified commerical relations with one another. I don't see how this would infringe on any treaty or impede the free naval traffic of other nations. Edited by Wakizashi, Oct 20 2014, 03:01 AM.
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| C.E | Oct 20 2014, 04:10 AM Post #7 |
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Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs The Venezuelan position is noted, but is not taken into consideration. I would advise the Venezuelan Representative to review a map before elaborating his stance. The Saudi-Egypt Causeway does indeed infringe on the Freedom of Navigation for both Israel, while utilizing the port of Eilat and for Hashemite Kingdom's only access to sea through the Port of Aqaba. As stated, Israel is willing to find and support alternative solutions, that does not violate the Camp David Accords nor the aforementioned parties ability to navigate in international waters. We do not oppose connection between Saudi Arabia and Egypt merely the planned construction and we therefore advise a tunnel as a better solution. |
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| Shadows | Oct 20 2014, 08:32 AM Post #8 |
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Sameh Hassan Shoukry Minister of Foreign Affairs I thank the Venezuelan representative for his support. As to the Israeli complaints, once again, we are approaching this from different perspectives, my government is attempting to alleviate your concerns and the possibilities of trade issues, while you appear to be simply trying to undermine this venture. If the amount of possible crossing points along the causeway is the issue, then we should stop bickering here and instead move through with modifying existing plans to address your concerns. The program is at a point where modifications can be made. Also, I'd like to ask where the Israeli representative is getting information on the number of potential crossings under the causeway. Perhaps you have more information than even I do at this juncture, or are you simply making a conjectural statement to make your point? As for the possibility of a tunnel, is the Israeli government willing to supplement my governments spending to make this possible? The government of Egypt is not in the best economic position, as we are sure you are aware. The additional costs, and even more importantly the additional time needed, to transition to a tunnel building effort is not feasible at this time. |
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| Vonar Roberts | Oct 20 2014, 09:12 AM Post #9 |
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Li Keqiang Premier of the People's Republic of China The People's Republic of China would be willing to help Egypt, Israel, and Saudi Arabia build a tunnel similar to the Channel Tunnel that when combined with ferry service would allow for regular rail and passenger train connections between Saudi Arabia and Egypt without hindering surface traffic, and ferries can ensure that vehicles like transport trucks or Oil trucks that are too big for the train service to still make it across while not obstructing the flow of traffic through the Gulf of Aqaba. |
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| Shadows | Oct 20 2014, 09:42 AM Post #10 |
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Sameh Hassan Shoukry Minister of Foreign Affairs My government is interested in discussing this possibility with the Chinese government, assuming the Saudi Arabian government is open to the possibility as well. |
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8:37 AM Jul 13
