Arab summit focus on Arab peace initiative, real reform of Arab League avoided
Regional, Politics, 3/21/2005

Al Ahram reports that the agenda of the Algiers summit focuses on the Middle East peace march, the situation in Iraq and the Sudan, reform of the Arab League, payments by the member states of their subscriptions, the Arab attitude towards the reform of the United Nations besides combating terrorism.

Meantime, the Algeria-hosted Arab summit's draft final communique asserted the Arabs' commitment to the Arab peace initiative, MENA learned.

The final communique of the summit set for March 22-23 in the Algerian capital, also considered the initiative an Arab plan for achieving a just and durable peace in the region.

According to the blueprint, the Arabs are rejecting all stances and practices that run counter to the peace initiative and the international legitimacy rules.

The Arab leaders, in their draft final communique, are also asserting that the peace process should be dealt with as an inseparable package based on the international legitimacy and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, especially 242 and 338, the land for peace principle and the Madrid conference terms of reference.

The draft statement underlined that no party is entitled to introduce amendments into the peace process terms of reference with a view to dodge the agreed upon commitments.

The Arab leaders, in their draft communique, asserted the settlement of the Palestinian cause and the Arab-Israeli conflict should be based on the international legitimacy and the agreed upon terms of reference in a way that would lead eventually to establishing the independent state of Palestine with Al-Quds as its capital.

They also underscored that land seizure was not permissible.

The Arab leaders deemed introducing any amendments into these bases as pre-emotive measures that violate the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people.

They also urged the international Quartet to resume its peace efforts on the basis of the Arab initiative.

The Arab leaders noted that any unilateral withdrawal from Palestinian territories should be part of the roadmap peace plan and should also be an initial step towards the full withdrawal to the lines of June, 4 1967 under an international supervision.

The Arab leaders, in their draft final statement underlined the importance that all countries and international organizations should not recognize or deal with any neither guarantees nor pledges that would lead to harming the legitimate Palestinian rights.

The Arab leaders, according to the draft communique, are asking all countries and international organizations to denounce the building of the Israeli separation wall which constitutes a threat to setting up the state of Palestine and would lead to a new wave of displaced Palestinians.

The Arab leaders are also asking world countries to seek to stop the separation wall building and removing the parts of it that are already in place in accordance with the International Court of Justice's legal opinion on the illegitimacy of the wall, indicated the blueprint.

It also asserted the illegitimacy of the Israeli practices (in the Palestinian lands) especially the continued building of the separation wall, which is aimed at cutting up Al-Quds city and isolating its inhabitants from their mainland in the West Bank.

The Arab leaders called for enabling the Palestinian Authority (PA) to assume its responsibilities in the areas from which Israeli troops will pullout in line with the road map peace plan and within the framework of a timetable.

They also called upon the international community to extend all possible help and assistance to the PA with a view to enhancing its ability to control the Palestinian borders and run the Palestinian people's affairs in a proper way.

They, meanwhile, confirmed their commitment to maintaining their support to the Palestinian people and leadership so that the Palestinians could maintain their struggle over the coming phase.

The Arab leaders in the draft final communique of the Algiers Arab summit denounced all excavations under Al-Aqsa Mosque as such operations posed a threat to its foundations.

The Arab leaders expressed support of all previous Arab summits' resolutions, rejecting Israeli practices aiming at introducing demographic changes in the Syrian Golan Heights and deeming such practices illegal and null and void.

They also considered these practices a violation of the international agreements and the United Nations Charter and resolutions.

Maintaining the occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights constitutes a threat to regional and international peace and security, according to the draft statement.

The Arab leaders confirmed their support for the struggle of the Arabs in the occupied Golan Heights against repressive practices aimed at obliterating their Arab identity.

The Arab leaders in their draft final communique denounced Israel's occupation of Lebanese lands and its continued violations of the Lebanese sovereignty.

The Arab leaders supported Lebanon's sovereign rights to have its own political options within the framework of constitutional rules and norms.

They also expressed support of free decisions by Lebanon on enhancing relations with other Arab states, taking into consideration the historical relations between Lebanon and Syria.

The Arab leaders renewed their support for Lebanon's efforts to liberate its lands and its demands for releasing its nationals in Israeli jails.

The leaders urged the United Nations Security Council to stop the Israeli violations against Lebanon.

They also called for implementing the United Nations General Assembly resolution 194 of 1948 on the return of Palestinian refugees and they expressed rejection of settling Palestinian refugees in the host countries.

The Arab leaders also underlined their respect for Iraqi unity and sovereignty and the necessity of non-interference in Iraq's internal affairs.

The draft statement underscored the necessity of enhancing the Arab League's role in Iraq including restoring Iraq's diplomatic relations with Arab states to their natural level.

The Arab leaders denounced all form of terrorism and violence in Iraq.

The Arab leaders in their draft final communique welcomed a step taken by creditor countries on slimming down Iraqi debts by 80 per cent.

They urged Arab creditor states to take a similar move, either fully forgiving or at least exempting Iraq of parts of its debt as part of efforts aimed at supporting the Iraqi national economy.

The Arab leaders, in their draft final communique, renewed their support to the sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates over the three disputed islands of Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Moussa.

They urged Iran to end its occupation of the three islands and stop imposing a fait accompli policy.

The Arab leaders expressed belief that Iran would reconsider its stance rejecting a peaceful solution to the bone of contention with the UAE.

The leaders also voiced their rejection of the so-called Syria Accountability Act, deeming its a violation of international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions along with the Arab League Charter.

They expressed solidarity with Syria in its difference with the US and urged Washington to enter into dialogue with Damascus in good faith in a bid to end differences.

The Arab leaders also called upon the US to reconsider that Act against Syria which "constituted a flagrant bias towards Israel and posed a threat to Arab national interests."

The draft final communique of the Arab summit also underlined the Arab leaders' support of Sudan in its efforts to maintain peace and stability over the Sudanese lands.

They welcomed hammering out an agreement between the Khartoum government and the Sudan people's Libel-action Movement in the Kenyan capital Nairobi in January this year.

They expressed deep worries regarding developments in the western Sudanese region of Darfur and the humanitarian crisis there.

They announced, in the blueprint, their decision to support efforts made by the African Union to help settle the Darfur crisis.

They urged the parties concerned to resume peace negotiations on the situation in Darfur without preconditions.

The Arab leaders, in their draft final statement, welcomed positive results reached at the Somali factions' national reconciliation conference, which was held in Nairobi.

They also welcomed other positions' developments including the formation of an interim Somali parliament and government along with naming a president.

They urged the Somali people and factions to work together.

For maintaining their country's peace and stability.

The Arab leaders also underlined the necessity of introducing reforms to the United Nations by enhancing the role of the General Assembly and broadening the membership of the Security Council.

The Arab leaders expressed thanks to the Algerian government for efforts made to render the summit a success.

The statement indicated that Algerian President Abdel Aziz Bouteflika's inaugural speech to the summiteers would be an official document of the summit.

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search