Arab FMs discuss issues; al-Shara: vagueness on fate of Arab peace initiative
Regional, Politics, 9/5/2002

Meetings of the 118th session of the Arab League (AL) council at the level of foreign ministers started on Wednesday at the AL headquarters in Cairo.

During their two day deliberations, the Arab foreign ministers discuss 37 items dealing with various joint Arab work issues, foremost being the developments of the Arab- Israeli conflict, the Arab national security and supporting the Palestinian Intifada as well as the American- Israeli threats against the Arab states.

In speeches delivered at the opening session, the Lebanese foreign minister, the current chairman of the current AL council Mahmoud Hammoud, stressed the need of confirming the Beirut Arab summit resolutions on the ground that any threat or aggression against any Arab state is but a threat and direct aggression against the Arab states as a whole, noting that this stand should be a clear message to the whole world on the Arab's rejection to attacking Iraq or any other Arab state.

Hammoud noted the brutal massacres committed by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories. He said that "Israel's terrorism will not undermine the will of the Palestinians to resist occupation until full rights are restored back."

The Kuwaiti minister of state for foreign affairs Sheikh Muhammad Salem al-Sabah held Israel responsible for intensifying conditions in the region due to its aggressive policy and the massacres committed against the Palestinians. he stressed the need of strengthening the Arab position towards this crucial phase the region passes.

The AL council. However, formed four main political, economic, legal and discussions committees in order to prepare the special recommendations relating to each committee to be submitted to the council of the foreign ministers to be approved in the final session.

Meantime, Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara said that the Arabs are facing real threats that require collective and serious works. He indicated that there is a "great vagueness" on the fate of the Arab peace initiative, noting that instead of revitalizing this Arab initiative, the US has escalated its threats to war and the use of force.

Al-Shara on Wednesday attended the meetings of the Arab foreign ministers together with heads of Arab communities and organizations in the USA.

Heads of the Arab- American organizations gave ideas on convening a comprehensive Arab- American conference in the spring of 2003 aiming at strengthening the role of Arab communities abroad and making clear the image of the Arabs and Muslims in the west and this will be through concentration on the political, economic, media issues and improving conditions of Arabs residents in the USA and increasing the volume of investment between the Arab states and the USA under the supervision of the Arab Americans.

The speakers concentrated on the role of the media in covering the real events to the common American citizen, and explaining the message of the Arabs and Muslims in that the Arab region is a cradle of divine religions which spread all over the world.

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