Maher: Arab summit to be convened on Feb. 28
Egypt-Regional, Politics, 2/18/2003

The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Maher announced yesterday that the urgent Arab summit on Iraq will be held on February 28, denying any opposition for convening it.

Maher told journalists that the unanimously agreed view is that to convene the urgent Arab summit on February 28th. A matter which will be settled during contacts and consultations to be held by Egypt, Lebanon and the general secretariat of the Arab League during the two coming days.

However, Arab diplomatic sources said that several Arab states especially Syria, Libya, Yemen and Sudan had asked for defining the decisions of the summit before approving its holding.

Maher added it would not be logical to wait until the ordinary Arab summit by the end of March, which will delay the Arab voice from being heard, while developments have been accelerated recently concerning the issue of Iraq.

Maher indicated that the secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa proposed the convening of the ordinary Arab summit immediately after the end of the works of the urgent summit by the beginning of March in a way that coincides with the AL charter requirements. This matter will be also settled during consultation, Maher said.

Maher, on the other hand, denied that there is any opposition of the form of the final statement of the meeting of the Arab foreign minister which was concluded Sunday evening in Cairo.

Worthy mentioning that the Lebanese foreign minister Mahmoud Hammoud announced on Sunday that Kuwait showed reservations on the final statement of the Arab foreign ministers.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak calls Arab leaders to hold extraordinary summit next week   (2/15/2003)
  Jordanian, Egyptian summit in al-Aqaba   (2/8/2003)
  Egypt approves of holding an early Arab summit   (2/3/2003)

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