Maher: all issues will be tackled at the summit
Egypt-Regional, Politics, 3/25/2002

Egyptian President Mubarak yesterday received Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher before his departure for the Lebanese capital of Beirut to take part in the Arab Foreign Ministers meeting which is scheduled to be held today for drafting the agenda of the summit which will open on Wednesday.

Upon arrival in Beirut yesterday, Foreign Minister Maher said President Mubarak would arrive in the Beirut summit. Al Ahram quoted Foreign Minister Maher as saying that if Israel attempted to prevent Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat from taking part in the summit, Arabs would have another saying.

He said we are waiting for the participation of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in the summit, adding all issues listed on the agenda will be tackled.

Maher said the convening of the summit in Beirut means Arab acknowledgement that Lebanon is back to normal and has restored its Arab role in full.

"It augurs well for us to meet in this country whose brave and faithful people managed to defeat the Israeli occupation," Maher said.

Egypt's top diplomat highlighted Egypt's full backing to the initiative floated by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Ben Abdel Aziz as it comes in line with Arab constants, resolutions of Arab summit in 1996 and a confirmation that peace is the strategic choice of Arabs.

On Arafat's participation at the summit, Maher said that the Palestinian leader as being a head of state has the right to leave his residence and come to Beirut, warning against an Israeli attempt to prevent him.

"We expect Arafat to be among Arab leaders on Wednesday", Maher added.

On reports that President Yasser Arafat will arrive in Beirut accompanying President Hosni Mubarak, said that he has no idea about such reports.

Asked if the summit's adoption of the peace initiative means backtracking on other issues such as Arab boycott and trial of Israeli war criminals, Maher said that all topics are on the agenda and would be probed as all of them are indispensable.

Maher asserted that consultations ahead of the summit among different Arab states showed that there is agreement on view points.

The Foreign Ministers are expected to underline the need for confronting terrorism which is different from legitimate resistance against occupation.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faysal said that the drafting of the initiative of Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdel Aziz has been finished some time ago adding the Crown Prince will declare the initiative before the summit.

The ministers are expected to settle disagreement witnessed by the meeting of the senior officials at the foreign ministries of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Previous Stories:
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  Egypt calls on Israel to join NPT   (3/23/2002)
  Maher: Arab solidarity conference, held at critical stage   (3/21/2002)

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