Mubarak visits Syria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, seeking to convince Iraq to accept UN inspectors
Egypt-Regional, Politics, 9/16/2002

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak intends this week to tour several Arab states in order to get their support in the attempt to convince Iraq to agree on the return back of the UN inspectors to dismantling weapons. This is, however,is the "first step" the Arab foreign minister had urged Baghdad to make during their meeting in New York on Saturday.

An Egyptian diplomat said it is expected that "the President ( Mubarak) will start his tour on Saturday ( September 21) by visits to Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, but the arrangements may not possibly be so." He added that "delegates will be sent to other Arab countries," which he did not identify, noting that the "aim is to achieve an Arab initiative in order to convince Iraq to permit the return back of the UN inspectors in order to avoid the war." He continued "it is easy to convince Iraq of the return back of the inspectors if there will be a united Arab position recommending him to do so."

To this effect, the Qatari al-Jazeera TV station said on Saturday that Mubarak is currently studying a proposal to host a mini Arab summit within the few coming days which will be attended by the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Jordan with the aim of adopting a united Arab position concerning Iraq.

Meantime, a statement issued by the Arab League in Cairo said that the AL secretary General Amr Moussa, currently in New York to take part in the works of the 57th session of the UN general Assembly, "gives great importance to supporting the diplomatic efforts exerted by various sides in order to take necessary steps towards the return back of UN inspectors to Iraq. "

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak meets four Arab ministers on Palestinian question, Sudan, Iraq   (9/7/2002)
  Maher's talks with FMs of Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, Somalia on threats   (8/31/2002)
  Mubarak meets with Zayed, King Fahd in Geneva   (7/20/2002)

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