American moves in Cairo, Arab ministerial council adopts the Egyptian initiative
Regional-USA, Politics, 3/2/2004

The US under secretary of state for political affairs Marc Grossman arrived in Cairo yesterday coming from Morocco in a visit during which he will discuss with the Egyptian officials the American project known as the " Greater Middle East initiative."

This visit also comes in the framework of a tour which also includes Jordan, Bahrain and Brussels, the headquarters of the European Union with the aim of discussing this plan before debating it at the meeting of the G- 8 which will be held in June.

Grossman had discussed with the Moroccan king the American initiative which aims at encouraging democratic reforms and economic openness in the Arab world and other Islamic states.

The American project tries to challenge political, economic and social problems in the Middle East but without hinting at the Arab- Israeli conflict which the Arabs say it is the essence of the crisis.

Washington urges the G-8 to give large aid in order to encourage countries of this region to make free elections and empowering women, make judicial reforms and disseminate market economics in the Middle East.

Meantime, news reports in Cairo said that the tripartite initiative to reform the Arab league proposed by Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia was adopted by the Arab foreign ministers in their meeting currently held in Cairo as the beginning but not alone, rather within other projects submitted from the Arab states.

This Arab projects stressed Arab government's recognition of their responsibilities in the area of reforms which it sees it has to stem from the will of the peoples of the region, rather than abroad.

However, the Egyptian document stressed the need that the reforms should not target to fulfill the interests of foreign forces and that regional cooperation in the Middle East to be based on a common vision based on understanding differences, the others, variety and the desire of the country to participate rather than spontaneous geographical affiliation.

The Egyptian document also noted that it is impossible to find a formula for cooperation in isolation to the Palestinian question and the Arab Israeli conflict. The project's draft proposed to form an inter- Arab ministerial committee with the mission to make contacts with sides concerned to crystallize elements for dialogue.

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