Bush statement cause differences in vision among Arab states
Regional-Palestine, Politics, 7/13/2002

The statement given by US President George Bush on the Middle East has caused disagreement in standpoints by Arab Foreign Ministers who are members of the Arab peace initiative during their meeting held at the Arab League yesterday.

The Syrian and Lebanese sides underlined their commitment to the Arab peace initiative while others said Bush statement contained positive points and underlined the need for intensifying consultations and meetings in the upcoming stage.

The ministers expressed their reservations especially the items related to the provisional Palestinian state and changing President Yasser Arafat.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said Friday the Arab parties would present to the international Quartet (US, Russia, Europe, UN) meeting the Arab peace plan as ratified by the Beirut Arab summit.

In statements on the sidelines of the meeting of the Arab initiative follow-up committee, Maher said that there was no new Arab working paper and that the Arab peace plan represents the Arab unified stance.

We are going to the "Quartet" with a strong and clear vision and we sill ask the Quartet meeting to go in line with the Arab stance which aims at bringing about peace in the region.

"Peace is a hope we should always work as long as there is no effort and so long as we are calling for implementation of international legitimacy," Maher said.

He reiterated Egypt's keenness on achieving security for all peoples of the region, asserting that this would not be possible unless the Palestinian people restored all their rights.

On the Iraq-Kuwait case, Maher said the issue was discussed in the Beirut Arab summit and will naturally be raised during today's meetings.

He asserted that Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan have agreed to attend the quartet's meeting in New York on Tuesday.

"The US, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia or any other party can never choose a leadership for the Palestinian people as this is the right of the Palestinians", said Maher.

Asked why Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk A1 Sharaa left the meetings before their conclusion, Maher said the Syrian minister did not leave hastily but rather due to heavy schedule.

Previous Stories:
  African leaders message of solidarity to Arafat   (7/11/2002)
  Anti-Israeli criticism should be exploited, urges Abdel Meguid   (7/11/2002)
  Four member committee discusses July 15 conditions in the region   (7/10/2002)

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