Rift precedes meeting of Arab FMs; Kuwait condemns Iraq
Iraq-Regional, Politics, 3/24/2003

The meeting of the Arab foreign ministers in Cairo today may witness a new confrontation between Iraq which has been exposed to an American- British invasion and between Kuwait which announced its persistence to get an Arab condemnation of the Iraqi aggression against it, while the Arab foreign ministers are trying to reach means of ending the war which seem that view points will not be common regarding them.

The meeting which will be held at the headquarters of the Arab League will try to convince the Arab people that their governments are Making their utmost efforts to halt the war which set ablaze demonstrations in all parts of the Arab world characterized in certain times by violence.

The spokesman for the Arab league Hesham Youssef said that the " Arab foreign ministers want to discuss steps that can be taken to halt the war," adding that the ministers will discuss diplomatic initiatives to try to stop the conflict through the UN. The meeting was due before the war but the eruption of the fighting added to it more significance.

On Saturday, the Iraqi foreign minister Naji Sabri said that his country wants the Arab states to take a stand against the War, noting this will be reflected on the sentiments of the Arab street.

Upon his arrival in Cairo to take part in the meeting of the Arab Foreign ministers Sabri said "you know that Israel is taking part in this aggression against Iraq. Israel sends missiles. We have found a missile.. An Israeli missile in Baghdad." The Iraqi minister appealed the Arab governments to condemn Kuwait from where the Americana and British forces launched their attack.

He said "The government of Kuwait has facilitated the entry of the aggressors and hosted the aggressors, financed them to attack the people of Iraq. From Kuwait shells are fired to kill the children of al-Basra." Sabri accused the ruler of Kuwait "the hirelings" of opening two thirds of their country before the American invasion of Kuwait.

Sabri warned Turkey against incursion into the Iraqi territories, considering it will "pay a heavy price" for this act in case it does so. This was expressed by Sabri in conclusion of a meeting for the Arab League in Cairo. He added "Turkey is behaving against its people and it will pay a heavy price if it will follow the colonialist campaign against Iraq, because Iraq is the key to stability in the region." On the other hand, an official source at the AL said that Kuwait, supported by the gulf member states, is persistent that any statements to be published by the AL Ministerial council to include condemnation for the Iraqi aggression against its territories.

The source said that Mousa held yesterday an "urgent meeting with the 6 representatives of the GCC (Gulf) states, later joined by the representatives of Egypt and Jordan and discussions centered on the Kuwaiti request which is supported by the Gulf states." A Kuwaiti source took part in the meeting was quoted as saying that "Kuwait will not give up its right to preserving its security, sovereignty and protecting its people."

The Kuwaiti source added that the AL chief will start consultations with several Arab foreign ministers immediately after their arrival in order to "crystallize an Arab position, according to the Arab summit which rejects aggressions against Iraq or any other Arab country." Later, Moussa held a round of consultation with the Oman's minister of state for foreign affairs Youssef Bin Alawi, with the Lebanese foreign minister Mahmoud Hammoud, the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara and the Algerian foreign minister Abdul Aziz Balkhadem.

Following the meeting, Mousa called for halting the war against Iraq "by any means." He said that "the AL opposes the war."

Previous Stories:
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  U.N. appealed Iraq's neighbors to open borders to people fleeing a U.S.-led war   (3/22/2003)
  Russian, French, German reject expelling Iraqi diplomats   (3/22/2003)
  Kuwaiti coasts guards kill an Iraqi sailor   (3/20/2003)
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  Kuwait will not prevent war on Iraqis, and wants God to protects the Iraqis   (3/11/2003)

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