Arab FMs urge world community to support Palestinians
Regional, Politics, 9/11/2001

The Arab Foreign Ministers adopted important resolutions at the conclusion of their two-day meetings in Cairo late Monday.

On the Palestinian Intifada, the ministers called on the UN Security Council to form an international investigation committee into Israel-perpetrated massacres and on the world community to form an international tribunal to try Israeli war criminals.

The council called on Arab states that have not paid their shares in the Intifada and Al-Aqsa Funds to give their contributions.

It reiterated unwavering support for the Palestinian demands of sovereignty over Al-Quds (Jerusalem) including all Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The Council slammed Israeli attempts to Judaise the holy city branding all such attempts as violation of international legitimacy resolutions.

It pressed for abiding by UN Security Council resolution 478 which urged world countries not to move their diplomatic missions in Israel to occupied Al-Quds.

On the Palestinian refugees' issue, the council highlighted the importance of putting into effect Security Council resolution 237 that press for the return of Palestinian refugees and displaced to their homes.

It appealed to the UN to form an international committee to secure the return of these refugees and displaced, describing the right of return as one of the basic principals for a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

On the Israeli settlements, the council called for the dismantle of all Israeli settlements built in the Palestinian territories and condemned the barbaric massacres perpetrated by Jewish settlers against innocent Palestinian civilians.

It called for more efforts to be exerted with the European Union (EU) to guarantee that its 16 member states are still committed to their decision to ban the import of products from these settlements.

The council exhorted all Arab institutions and bodies to support the Palestinians, especially in view of Israel's crackdown on the Palestinian national economy and infrastructure.

On the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, the Arab League Council reiterated firm support to Syria's demands for the restoration of its occupied territories to pre-1967 borders as stipulated by international legitimacy resolutions.

The Arab Foreign Ministers described the Israeli annexation of the Golan Heights as null and void and reaffirmed full backing to Syria and Lebanon in the face of Israeli threats.

They demanded the termination of Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Golan Heights branding them as a gross violation of the Geneva Convention and a war crime.

The Council strongly condemned the Israeli occupation of Lebanese territories and the detention of Lebanese in Israeli prisons.

It backed the Lebanese demand for the liberation of the occupied Shebaa Farms, release of all Lebanese detainees and the removal of Israeli-planted land mines in the liberated south.

The council stressed that the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon should return to their homeland and warned against any attempts to settle them in Lebanon.

It vocalized appreciation of Arab countries and funds that give a hand of assistance to Lebanon in the re-construction of the liberated south and called for the activation of the Lebanon fund.

The Arab Foreign Ministers also decided to equip for already-built hospitals in the villages of Qana, Bint Jabeil, Meis El Jabeil and Mashghara with a total cost of $ 15 million.

They also agreed on allocating $ 20 million for making the best use of water from Ain Zarqa area in the Western Beqaa to supply drinking water for some 50 villages.

The Arab Foreign Ministers decided to continue efforts for boosting Arab-African relations and assigned the Arab League Secretary-General to pursue contacts with the Organization of African Unity (OAU) chief.

The ministers welcomed a proposal by the secretary general to word a working paper on a new strategy for Arab-African cooperation.

On the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, the ministers highlighted the importance of coordination between member states in this partnership pact as well as forging a pan-Arab stand vis- a-vis the draft charter on peace and stability in the Mediterranean.

Taking up the Arab-European dialogue, the ministers appreciated efforts carried out recently by the EU to salvage the Mideast peace process as well as EU financial assistance to the Palestinian people. The council exhorted the EU to play a more effective political and diplomatic role and underlined the importance of furthering Arab-European ties to serve the interests of both sides.

Addressing the Iranian occupation of the three United Arab Emirates (UAE) islands, the Arab Foreign Ministers reiterated full support to the UAE claim of sovereignty over the islands of Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Moussa.

They denounced the Iranian occupation of the islands and its schemes to settle Iranians in the occupied islands.

The ministers also called on the Iranian government to end this occupation and regretted its rejection to cooperate with the relevant tripartite committee formed by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The Ministers also hoped Iran would reconsider its stance and accept a peaceful settlements of the issue either via direct negotiations or arbitration.

They reaffirmed commitment of all Arab governments to raise this issue in their contacts with Iran.

The Arab Foreign Ministers' council reiterated solidarity with Libya in its demand for a fair trial and release of Abdel Basset El-Megrahi, the Libyan national convicted in the Lockerbie case.

The ministers slammed the obstruction of lifting sanctions off Libya describing it a violation of international law, UN Charter and Security Council resolutions on lifting sanctions once Libya hands over the two suspects.

They pressed for an immediate lift of sanctions and urged all Arab countries to collectively cancel these sanctions.

The ministers called on the US to engage in direct dialogue with Libya to settle any issues that obstruct the normalization of ties between both countries.

The ministers supported Libya's demands for receiving compensations for the financial and human damage caused by the sanctions.

On the Somali issue, the ministers welcomed efforts exerted by the interim government in Somalia to realise national reconciliation and restore security and stability.

They called on all factions to work in good faith for national reconciliation in Somalia.

The ministers decided to re-form a ministerial committee assigned with following up the situation in Somalia to comprise Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Oman, Libya, Egypt, Yemen and Somalia.

They welcomed a proposal by the Arab League Secretary General to appoint a special envoy to Somalia to follow up developments there.

They called on member states of the Arab League to provide Somalia with financial support to fund programmes for restoring security and stability in accordance with the Amman Arab summit resolutions.

The Arab Foreign Ministers reiterated keenness on Sudan's territorial integrity and sovereignty as well as rejection of any schemes to divide the country.

They appreciated the Sudanese government's efforts to realize national reconciliation and lashed out at foreign attempts to meddle in Sudan's domestic affairs.

The Arab League Council reiterated backing to the Egyptian Libyan initiative on achieving national reconciliation in Sudan as well as efforts to coordinate the joint overture with that of the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD).

The council forwarded a recommendation to set up a fund for the development of south Sudan and supported Sudan's demand for lifting the imposed UN Security Council sanctions.

The council invited Arab countries to provide political and media support to Sudan and called on regional and international parties to give momentum to peace efforts.

It urged Arab organizations to offer financial aid to Khartoum to enable the government to face the destruction caused by the floods and cater for the persons displaced by the war in the south.

The Arab ministers welcomed efforts being exerted by the Sudanese government to conclude a comprehensive ceasefire agreement and called on the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) to respond to calls by the Arab League and the international community for a ceasefire to spare more bloodshed.

On the Comoros, the Arab Foreign Ministers Commended efforts by the government and the various parties to realise national reconciliation.

They called on the Arab states to pay their shares in the Comoros support fund and invited specialised Arab organizations and funds to offer financial and technical aid to help Comoros overcome its economic crisis.

The Ministers also supported efforts by the Arab League Secretary-General to promote the Arab and Islamic culture in the Comoros.

Previous Stories:
  Arab League withdraws Sahara item from AL's report, after Morocco's protest   (9/10/2001)
  Egyptian-Palestinian-Jordanian meeting   (9/10/2001)
  Arab foreign ministers agree to important measures   (9/10/2001)

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