Draft Beirut declaration affirms Arab solidarity and adherence to just peace
Regional, Politics, 3/25/2002

Information sources affirmed to Middle East News Agency (MENA) Sunday that it has been decided to issue a Beirut Declaration at the conclusion of meetings of the 14th Arab summit which opens Wednesday that deals among oher issues with the issues of Palestine, Iraq, economic integration.

This follows consultations among Arab parties in the past two days. The trend had been to issue a final communique.

The draft Beirut Declaration affirms adherence to Arab solidarity as a means to safeguard Arab national security, adherence to just and overall peace which can be realized when Israel makes a full withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories in accordance with resolutions of international legitimacy.

The declaration lauded the role of Lebanese resistance and affirmed the territorial integrity of Iraq and rejection of any threats and called to fighting international terrorism.

The draft Beirut Declaration says:

We, Kings, Heads and Emirs of Arab countries, meeting as an Arab League Council at summit level, the 14th ordinary session, in Beirut, capital of the Lebanese Republic, March 27-28, 2002.

After making an overall evaluation of the Arab situation and Arab-Arab relations, particularly in this delicate stage through which our Arab nation is living, and challenges which face it and threats which touch on Arab national security.

After reviewing Arab initiatives which aim at realizing just and overall peace in the area and implementation of the resolutions of international legitimacy related to the Arab Israeli struggle and the Palestinian issue in the light of the big setback in the peace process.

And in the course of world and regional developments particularity after the September 11 events and attempts made by some quarters to defame Islamic civilization and attach accusations of terrorism to the Arabs and Muslims.

And on the basis of national responsibility and believing in the principles and goals of the Charter of the League of Arab States and the UN Charter.

We declare the following:

To adhere to Arab solidarity as a way to realise the higher goals of the nation, to safeguard its national security and to ward off foreign plans which aim at undermining Arab regional safety and the dignity of the Arabs.

To stress the adherence of Arab states to the realization of a just and overall peace, considering that it is a goal and a strategic option which can be realised by implementing the resolutions of international legitimacy based on the land-for-peace principle and which calls for a clear Israeli commitment to withdraw from all occupied Arab territories and restore rights and occupied territories, including Arab Jerusalem, and safeguard balanced and equal security for all countries of the area in accordance with the principles on which agreement was reached at the Madrid Conference in 1991 and obligations, pledges and agreements reached within the framework of the peace process, particularly the land-for-peace principle in a manner which leads to the establishment of the state of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital.

To stress that overall and just peace calls for a full Israeli withdrawal from all Arab territories occupied since June, 1967, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the Arab Syrian Golan, and the remaining parts of South Lebanon, including Shebaa Farms, up to the borders of June 4, 1967.

To laud the role of the heroic Lebanese resistance and the brilliant Lebanese steadfastness which led to the defeat of Israeli forces (and their withdrawal) from south Lebanon and to affirm continued support to Lebanon, including Shebaa Farms, are freed from Israeli occupation.

To stress extreme keenness on Iraqi territorial unity and safety and rejection of the use of force, or threat to use it, against Iraq or any other Arab state and to consider that any such move affects the security and stability of the area.

To call to the final lifting of sanctions imposed on Iraq and to stress that it is necessary to respect resolutions of the Security Council and to deal positively with humanitarian issues related to Kuwaiti and other prisoners and those considered missing in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy, as this would represent a real breakthrough which leads to Arab conciliation.

To express the Arab principled and constant stand represented in condemning international terrorism in all its forms, whatever its motives and justifications, and to stress anew full condemnation on of the terrorism to which the United States was exposed on September 11, 2001, and the necessity of dealing with the causes which lead to terrorist acts and the necessity of differentiating between international terrorism, on the one hand, and the legitimate right of people to resist occupation, on the other hand, and the necessity of reaching an international agreement within the framework of the united Nations which would give an accurate definition of international terrorism to include terrorist acts practised by some countries.

And because the phenomenon of terrorism is an international social evil which strike in different parts of the world at the hands of terrorists from all races and religions, we strongly reject unjust attempts to link between terrorism and the Arabs and Muslims.

To stress the importance of interaction among cultures and civilizations on the basis of the calls of heavenly religions to renounce all forms of racist discrimination and urging tolerance and coexistence on the basis of mutual respect and safeguarding legitimate rights and we highly value Arab, Islamic and other efforts aiming at explaining facts about Arab and Islamic culture and civilization and refute false allegations about them.

In the light of the growing phenomenon of world economic blocs and as the period fixed for the application of the agreement of the World Trade Organization nears its end, we call upon Arab states to expedite setting up Greater Arab Free Trade Zone and provide full support to the ministerial committee concerned with following up the application of the summit resolutions in this respect.

To express high appreciation of the Lebanese Republic under His Excellency President Lahoud, the Head of State, for the care it has provided and the distinguished preparations made for the Arab summit to convene and we express thanks in advance to His Excellency President Emile Lahoud for his successful leadership co manage the work of the Arab summit at the highest level of responsible political wisdom and aware responsibility.

Previous Stories:
  An Arab forum coincides with Beirut's summit   (3/23/2002)
  Importance of regular political and economic summits to address Arab issues   (3/23/2002)
  Saudi initiative ready to be proposed at Arab summit   (3/22/2002)

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