Mubarak, Abdullah hold closing session of talks on Arab issues
Egypt-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 8/12/2003

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and the Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz yesterday held a closing session of talks, at Kubbeh Republican Palace during which they discussed the situation in the Arab world, and in the Palestinian territories in the light of the Israeli intransigence in implementing the roadmap peace plan, the developments in Iraq and ways of enhancing Arab action.

The two Arab leaders held five tet-a-tete sessions in presence of the two countries' foreign ministers. High level diplomatic sources said that the Egyptian-Saudi summit reached a joint plan of movement for following up important Arab issues, mainly deterioration on the Lebanese front between Israe and Hizbullah.

The sources said Cairo and Riyadh would call on Washington to interfere for pressurizing Israel to prevent it from embarking on any adventures that could further complicate the situation.

The two capitals warned that Israeli government of Ariel Sharon should honor its obligations under the roadmap peace plan and should not undermine any chances for reaching a solution.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher gave press statements Sunday night following the talks session between President Mubarak and the Saudi Crown Prince attended by the foreign ministers of Egypt and Syria, during which he said the two leaders made an assessment of the situation and how to overcome negative aspects and enhance Arab solidarity in order to help the Arab nation overcome the difficulties it is currently facing.

Maher, speaking at a press conference following a lengthy meeting with his Saudi and Syrian counterparts, said the proposed paper reaffirms the main principles that should govern joint Arab action.

The Foreign Minister declined to elaborate on the content of the paper because it was not yet submitted to the three leaders.

Maher said, however, that the main aim was to have common Arab understanding and joint Arab action to boost the Arab League, which he maintained was the framework for joint Arab action.

Maher asserted that the Egyptian paper on activating joint Arab action was welcomed by all the Arab states, adding that the Egyptian and other Arab papers remained tabled. He said "the Egyptian-Saudi-Syrian paper sought to summarize the main principles featured in the different papers in just one."

Maher said "the new paper includes many of the ideas floated by Arab countries." He praised it as being harmonious with the proposals which all served the same goal.

Asked about recent American hints towards some Arab countries such as Syria and Saudi Arabia, Maher said "we had all agreed to maintain solidarity in the face of dangers or threats against any Arab country in general and Saudi Arabia, Syria and Egypt in particular."

On the US-backed Interim Governing Council (IGC), Maher said the legitimacy of 25-member body "could not be recognized, but we are ready to receive its members in their personal capacity as is the case with political powers."

The recognition of the council depends on many facts as "its legitimacy, powers, relations to the occupation authorities and the role that could be played by the UN," the Egyptian top diplomat said. He denied that UN envoy to Iraq Serigo Vieira de Mello had said during his recent Middle East tour that the council plays a central role in Iraq.

"Mello rather agreed with the Egyptian stance that the council is a step that we hope would enable the Iraqi people to run their affairs and have full sovereignty over their country," said Maher.

On Israeli statements that it would continue building the separation wall in the West Bank, Maher stressed "they are rather meant to spark off tension with Arab countries and even conceal aggressive intentions." Maher denied that his meeting with Saudi and Syrian counterparts came in response to American pressures to amend the Arab League Charter to allow IGC members to attend its meetings as observers.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak-Abdullah talks focus on Mideast peace, Iraq's future   (8/11/2003)
  Crown Prince Abdullah visits Egypt Sunday   (8/8/2003)
  Saudi- Egyptian military exercises for 14 days in al-Taif   (5/28/2003)

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