Al-Shara in Doha, Saudi Arabia boycotts the OIC summit
Regional-Qatar, Politics, 11/9/2000

A meeting was held on Wednesday evening between Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara and the Egyptian foreign minister Amr Moussa.

Later the meeting was joined by Oman's minister of state for foreign affairs Youssef Bin Alawi and Morocco's foreign minister Muhammad in Issa.

During the meeting views and consultations were exchanged on basic issues debated at the agenda of the preliminary ministerial meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Earlier in the day, al-Shara arrived in Doha to preside over Syria's delegation to the meeting of the ministerial council due to be held today ( Thursday) in preparations for the works of the 9th session of the 9th OIC due to start on Sunday.

At Doha airport. Al-Shara was welcomed by Qatar's foreign minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Jaber al-Thani and the chairman and members of the Syrian mission in Doha.

In the evening a meeting was held. It included al-Shara. Mousa, Bin Issa and the Lebanese Foreign minister Mahmoud Hamoud. The four foreign ministers exchanged views on issues listed on the meeting's agenda.

In the evening a telephone call was made by al-Shara and his Iranian counterpart kamal Kharazi during which the two ministers discussed the issue of the OIC.

On Wednesday the delegation of Saudi Arabia withdrew from the preliminary meeting following the decision taken by Saudi Arabia to boycott the Summit at a time when Iran announced it will reconsider the participation of the Iranian President Muhammad Kharami in this summit.

Detailed news said that one member of the Saudi delegation to the meeting said on Wednesday that the Saudi delegation which includes experts in charge of preparing the summit's agenda will return back to Riyadh.

On Wednesday Saudi Arabia announced its boycott of the summit due to the fact that proper conditions are not available for convening it because of the continued deteriorated conditions in the Palestinians territories.

A statement released by the Saudi royal court said that the boycott decision was taken due to the deteriorated conditions in the occupied Arab territories especially in holy Jerusalem. A situation which makes it necessary to ensure the basics which will enable the summit facing current challenges, noting non- commitment to implementing the resolutions of the Arab summit recently held in Cairo on the need of halting all contacts between certain Arab states and Israel.

At the meantime, the Iranian deputy foreign minister Muhammad Jawad Zarif said on Wednesday that his country reconsiders the participation of President Muhammad Khatami in the summit, adding that consultations are being made with the government to this effect.

Worthy mentioning that Iran assumes the OIC presidency since 1997. It was decided that Qatar will assume the OIC presidency for three years.

Previous Stories:
  Arab participation at the OIC summit   (10/31/2000)
  Qatar to take part in the Arab foreign ministers council meetings   (3/9/2000)
  Hamas expects success in Qatari mediation to return Hamas leaders to Jordan   (2/3/2000)

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