Arab foreign ministers call for supporting the Palestinians, pullout of the Israeli forces
Regional, Politics, 3/14/2001

In conclusion of their meeting in Cairo on Tuesday, the Arab foreign ministers stressed the support of the Arab states for Syria's just call and right to restore back the occupied Golan up to June 4, 1967 border lines on the ground of the principles of the ME peace process and the international legitimacy resolutions.

Concluding the meetings of the their 115th session of the Arab league (AL) council, the Arab foreign ministers stressed their rejections to all Israeli practices to change the legal, natural and demographic situation of the Golan. They said the procedures are illegal and null and void in addition to the fact that they constitute a blatant violation of the international agreements and the UN charter and resolutions.

The ministers also confirmed their support for the steadfastness of the Syrian people of the Golan in the confrontation of the Israeli acts and for their adherence to their land and to their Syrian identity.

They called on the international community, particularly the sponsors of the peace process, to pressure israel to implement the UN resolutions relating to the israeli complete withdrawal from the Golan.

The Arab FM s strongly condemned the Israeli government's policy which aims at undermining the peace process, escalating tension in the region.

Also condemned were attempts to perpetuate the Israeli occupation of the Golan, considering these attempts as an open challenge to the international community's will, ad international legitimacy resolutions.

The ministers reiterated adherence to international legitimacy resolutions which call for the non- recognition of any situation resulting from the Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Arab lands which are illegal procedures that are not based on commitment to right.

Concerning the Palestinian Intifada, the Arab foreign ministers stressed support for the continuity of the Palestinian Intifada till its objectives in restoring all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to establish an independent palestinian state with jerusalem as a capital, are restored. The ministers also called on the UN security Council to ensure necessary protection of the Palestinian people, reactivate the performance of the international investigation committee in charge of studying the destructive effects of the depleted Uranium used by the Israeli forces in their aggressions on Arab lands and to work to bring Israeli war criminals to trials.

As for the issue of Jerusalem, the Arab foreign ministers stressed the Arab character of Jerusalem and its antiquities and holy shrines. They also confirmed the firm Arab stance on the illegitimacy of the attempts to move the American embassy to Jerusalem. They indicated in this regard to the decision of the Arab summit to sever relations with the states that move heir embassies to Jerusalem, or recognize Jerusalem as Israeli's capital. They reiterated the Palestinian refugees's right to repatriation and held Israel responsible for the complication of the refugees issue due to its refusal to implement UN resolution no. 14 of 1948.

On the Lebanese issue, the Foreign ministers affirmed the need of Israel's withdrawal from all the occupied Lebanese lands to the internationally recognized borders. They strongly supported Lebanon's right to resist the Israeli occupation till the occupied Lebanese lands including Shebaa Farms are liberated.

The ministers denounced Israeli threats against Syria and Lebanon. They stressed that any aggression on the two states ( Syria and Lebanon) is an aggression on the Arab nation.

They reiterated that the attainment of a just and comprehensive peace in the region necessitates israel's commitment to the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 242, 338 and 425 provides for Israel's complete withdrawal from the occupied Golan, and the Palestinian lands and for restoring the Palestinian people's rights.

The Arab FM s also urged the international community to pressure Israel to release the Lebanese prisoners and hostages held in the Israeli jails. They also called on the USA to give the ME peace process priority in its policy and to work hard for the implementation of concerned international legitimacy resolutions.

The Arab foreign ministers also called on the Arab states to increase contacts at all levels aiming at pressuring Israel to join the Nuclear Non- proliferation Treaty ( NPT), and to put its nuclear installation under international inspection, thereby making the Middle East region free of mass destruction weapons.

As for the issue of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers, the ministers stressed support for Syria and Iraq's rights in the waters of the two rivers, and called on the Turkish government to join tripartite negotiations to reach a final agreement that guarantees a just distribution of the waters among the three countries in accordance with the rules of international law.

They expressed concern over Turkey's continuous attempts to set up dams and carry out other projects on the Tigris and the Euphrates without previous consultations with Syria and Iraq that share Turkey the same rivers ' course.

The Arab foreign minister also expressed concern over the intention of the British and Swiss governments to give guarantees to finance ( Aliso) dam on the Tigris, calling on the two countries to comply with the Arab and foreign objections on financing the dam project.

As for the dangers of the Turkish- Israeli military co-operation, the ministers expressed deep concern over this co-operation calling to its danger on the Arab national security and the region as a whole.

The foreign ministers also called for lifting the sanctions imposed on Sudan, Libya and Iraq.

Previous Stories:
  Arab League pre-summit meetings held in positive climate, moroccan official   (3/13/2001)
  Arab FM s voice support for the Palestinian Intifada, Syria, Iraq   (3/13/2001)
  Arab League chief praises Egypt's support to the pan-Arab Organization   (3/12/2001)
  Arab follow-up committee calls for bolestering Jerusalem Fund   (3/12/2001)

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