Gulf ignores American threats of war; al-Faisal: we cooperate according to international law
Gulf-Iraq, Politics, 12/23/2002

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states yesterday concluded its summit in the Qatari capital, Doha, without declaring a common position concerning the threats of having a war in Iraq. The summit, instead, focused its interest on the customs federation which will be enforced as from the beginning of 2003.

Meantime, the Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal urged the USA not to launch a war against Iraq by itself and hinted to the possibility of a Saudi cooperation in a military operation if such an operation is decided by the UN. He expressed his hope that the Arab states will be given the opportunity to interfere to settle the crisis.

The Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasem Bin jaber al-Thani expressed following the conclusion of the summit his hope that there will be no military action. He said "Frankly speaking is that the GCC have no such worthy mentioning influence to this effect." He was asked on whether there is a Gulf initiative concerning Iraq and he denied that, but confined to saying that the GCC has contacts with Iraq and that the GCC said there will be escalation which is not wanted by any one.

The Summit's final statement welcomed "Iraq's unconditional acceptance of the UN security council resolution 1441 provided for the return back of the UN inspectors." But it did not tackle the possibilities of the war against Iraq. The final statement read that the GCC stressed "unwavering positions on the need of honoring Iraq's independence, its territorial integrity and non- interference in its internal affairs.. It also called on the international community for more work and exerting all efforts to enable the two sides, the Iraqi side and the UN inspectors to end the mission as soon as possible so as to ensure lifting the sanctions imposed on Iraq and ending the sufferings of the Iraqis as well as Iraq's return back to the International community."

The GCC condemned the speech delivered earlier this month by the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in which he called on the Kuwaitis to fight against the American forces. The GCC accused Saddam of provoking terrorism. The GCC said, it "calls on the Iraqi government to the need of fully abide by Arab and International resolutions concerned, especially in regard to releasing the Kuwaiti prisoners and detainees and other citizens of other countries as well as returning back all Kuwaiti properties especially the national archive, the documents and the official records of the state of Kuwait." The GCC also called on the Iraqi government to stop practices that continue to keep the region within the circle of tension and instability and a means for bringing in more sufferings for the Iraqi people." The summit which was presided over by the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani- was only attended among the GCC leaders by the Sultan of Oman, Qabous Bin Saeed.; while other 4 GCC leaders did not attend because of illness or what seemed as regret with Qatar. The summit was not attended by the GCC crown prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz because of differences with Qatar over of al-Jazeera TV channel.


However, the tense political atmospheres at the summit resulted in concentration at the customs unity which will be reinforced as from the first of January, 2003. The finalized customs agreement between the GCC member states decides customs rate on imports at 5% and also abrogates customs fees on all good produced in the region.

The Summit statement also called on the international community to place pressure in order to stop the Israeli "brutality" against the Palestinians and ensure international protection for the Palestinian people.

Following the summit's final session, Sheikh Hamad said that the GCC depends on the USA in maintaining its security. He defended the US- Qatari defense agreement which was signed earlier this month and permits the US to use the Qatari bases. He indicated that all the Gulf states are trying relentlessly to strengthen their security and that most of the GCC states had signed defense agreements with the US years before and that Qatar is the last country to do so.

Concerning the weak representation of the GCC leaders in this summit, the Qatari foreign minister stressed that Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahrain had reduced their presence while other countries had normal representation the same as previous summits," adding that " presentation is a matter of concerned to each country." Sheikh Hamad considered that demonstrations in the Arab states do not " take place randomly," in remarks to the demonstration organized by Leftist partisans on Saturday in front of the Embassy of Qatar in Cairo, in protest of the military agreement signed between the US and Qatar.

On the other hand, the Saudi foreign minister prince Saud al-Faisal said in an interview with the " CNN" " I do not imagine a war launched by the US alone ( against Iraq, because the matter at the meantime is debated before the UN security council." The Saudi foreign minister stressed that President George Bush had stated that " war is the last resort," considering that the decision taken by President Bush in September to bring the case before the UN was " very wise." N.

Previous Stories:
  Iraqi criticism for al-Ateyah statements   (12/10/2002)
  Al- Qabas: Gulf states don't mind attack on Iraq, just don't partition it   (9/14/2002)
  Gulf states suggest return of UN; diplomacy ends crisis with Iraq   (9/4/2002)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search