Peres blasts 'bad translation'
2002-07-28 13:02
Jerusalem - Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres on Sunday denied telling a
German weekly that he was unsure whether his boss, Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon, could be a credible partner for Middle East
peace.
"My remarks were badly translated and twisted," Peres told
Israeli public radio after Der Spiegel, due out on Monday, quoted him
as saying he had doubts about Sharon's ability to be a peace
partner in the regional crisis.
Peres told the radio that he had merely "expressed my doubts
that Ariel Sharon could actually reach peace, not on his desire
to".
Peres was quoted by the German weekly as responding to a
statement that "many Israelis doubt whether Ariel Sharon could be a
partner for peace", by saying: "Me too, I have my doubts."
The Labour minister, who has stayed in the right-wing
premier's cabinet despite pressure from his party's left to walk
out, said on Sunday: "I was asked if Sharon can reach peace and I said
he's not omnipotent and that it does not depend on him."
He said instead it "depends on (Palestinian leader) Yasser
Arafat and the Arab leaders". - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA