Egypt Criticizes Tunisia, hosts a mini summit tomorrow
Egypt-Tunisia, Politics, 3/30/2004

President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt has described the unilateral decision taken by Tunisia to postpone convening the Arab summit as an unjustified step.

The Middle East News Agency MENA quoted Mubarak as saying that the attempt of a certain side to impose its views unilaterally without consultations with other is an unacceptable matter.

The Egyptian president stressed that the summit might be held within two or three weeks, noting that all Arab leaders are waiting for the summit and its postponement was a shock for him and others. He indicated that Egypt does not oppose the convening of the summit in Tunisia if the Arab leaders want that.

These statements coincided with a declaration made by the Saudi crown prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz that he will be meeting tomorrow ( Wednesday) with the Egyptian President at Sharm Esh Sheikh resort in order to discuss means for reaching an Arab agreement on the date and venue of the summit.

According to diplomatic sources, the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad might join this meeting which might be changed into a quartet summit with the participation of the King of Bahrain Hamad Bin Issa al- Khalifa, President of the Arab summit who on Tuesday evening made talks with President Mubarak in Sharm Esh Sheikh.

In al-Rabat, the Moroccan News agency said that the Moroccan King Muhammad VI telephoned Mubarak and stressed the need to convening the summit as soon as possible.

Mubarak also met yesterday with the Saudi foreign minister prince Saud al-Faisal and the secretary general of the Arab league Amr Moussa in Cairo in the context of the efforts to define a new date for the summit.

Moussa said he will make a tour in the Arab capitals in the few coming days in order to discuss plans for convening the summit which he said will be held between three and seven weeks.

It is also due that the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara will head today for Riyadh and Cairo carrying messages from President Bashar al-Assad relating to the Arab summit and means of providing it a success.

For its part, the United Arab Emirates announced its support to convening the postponed Arab summit in Cairo. The UAE news agency quoted the UAE foreign minister Rashed Abdullah al-Nueimi as saying that his country highly appreciates the initiative made by the Egyptian President which he had described as important.

Al-Nueimi also denied that the postponement of the summit came as a result of differences over reforms in the Arab homeland, noting that the decision was taken by Tunisia for its own considerations.

The current President of the Iraqi Interim governing council Muhammad Baher al-Oloum said that Iraq is ready to take part in an Arab summit to be held in Cairo if it is invited. He expressed his regret over what had happened in Tunisia. For its part, Kuwait expressed its support for convening an Arab summit as soon as possible.

Meantime, Tunisia, yesterday renewed its cling to host and preside over the Arab summit and urged the Arab foreign ministers to meet at the headquarters of the Arab league in Cairo to crystallize a common position towards main issues due to be submitted to the Arab leaders at the summit.

The Tunisian foreign minister al-Habib Bin Yahya quoted the Tunisian President Zine al-Abidin Ben Ali as conforming his country's care to continue consultations and coordination until harmony is achieved on matters of destiny debated before the summit.

Meanwhile, the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani, made a telephone call with the Tunisian President and Sheikh Hamad and Ben Ali discussed the developments of the current conditions at the Arab arena after postponing the convening of the summit. They exchanged views over several issues of mutual concern.

Previous Stories:
  Bin Yahya meets with Mubarak, Moussa; Tunisia has not decided to host the Arab summit yet   (1/30/2004)
  Egypt, Tunisia sign secret agreements to exempt Americans from the international criminal court   (6/17/2003)
  Mubarak - Ben Ali talks focus on ME, Iraqi crisis, bilateral ties   (11/1/2002)

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