Beirut summit, a successful model for Arab summits, Moroccan FM
Regional, Politics, 3/28/2002

Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa, Thursday termed as "historic" the outcome of the Arab Summit, held March 27-28 in Beirut and said "the summit is a great success and will serve as a model for future summits."

The summit paved the way for new prospects regarding relations between Iraq and Kuwait, Benaissa told the press at the end of the Arab Summit.

The final statement of the summit noted that the Arab leaders favorably welcomed Iraq's affirmations to respect the independence, sovereignty and security of Kuwait, to guarantee its security, territorial integrity and to avoid anything likely to lead to the repetition of the events of 1990 (when Iraq invaded Kuwait). They likewise claim the respect of Iraq's independence, sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.

Commenting on the development, Kuwaiti foreign minister, Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, said his country "is 100 percent satisfied" over the Iraqi commitment.

For Benaissa, the unanimity around the Saudi initiative for peace in the Middle East was also one of the great achievements of the Beirut Summit. This is the first time that an Arab summit unanimously commits to the choice of peace as a strategic option, he said.

The Saudi initiative, adopted as "an Arab Peace Initiative," proposes to Israel a global peace in exchange of its total withdrawal from Arab territories occupied in 1967, including the Syrian Golan Heights, and the areas still occupied in southern Lebanon. The initiative also proposes a solution to the problem of Palestinian refugees and claims the creation of an independent Palestinian State on the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 in the West Bank and the Gaza strip, with Al-Quds as its capital. In exchange, Arab states offer to conclude a peace accord and normal relations with Israel, part of a comprehensive peace.

Previous Stories:
  King Mohammed calls Arab states to back Saudi peace initiative   (3/27/2002)
  Draft resolutions relating to Lebanon, Palestine and the Golan   (3/27/2002)
  Aznar, Solana will attend the Arab summit   (3/27/2002)

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