Al-Gomhuria : Moussa: Arab League restructuring to be discussed before Arab Summit; some Gulf state oppose a strong Arab League
Regional, Politics, 1/10/2004

Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Amr Moussa said that the coming Arab summit, due in Tunis in March, will discuss proposals on restructuring the AL and reforming the Arab joint action institutions.

Following a meeting of the Arab joint action institutions in Amman, Moussa told Al-Gomhuria daily that the Arab countries welcome the proposals forwarded by the General Secretariat and some Arab states to restructure the AL, noting that the AL reform is carried out upon the decisions of the Arab Summit in Beirut, in addition to reviewing the role of the AL Economic and Social Council.

The AL welcomes every effort that serves the Arab integration, as well as welcoming the Aghadeer Declaration due to be signed within days to establish a free trade zone among Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia, he added, noting that all Arab countries can join this zone in the future.

On the relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the AL, Moussa said that the GCC comprises countries that are enthusiastic for modernizing the AL, however some other countries are opposing such an idea.

Moussa noted that preparations are underway to hold an extended meeting of the Arab joint action institutions under the umbrella of the Arab Economic Unity Council for discussing means to encourage the private sector and the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to implement projects under the Arab unions for consolidating the Arab integration.

The General Secretariat prepared an entire file on reforming the system of the Arab joint action for discussion in the ministerial meeting prior to the summit, Moussa added.

On the accusations leveled against the AL, he said that the AL has exerted strenuous efforts along 60 years, however the League faces some hurdles that are being dealt with.

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