Qatar downgrades status of Mena summit and sends invitations
Qatar, Politics, 10/2/1997

Qatar has decided to downgrade the status of the fourth Middle East and North Africa (Mena) economic summit to be held in Doha from November 16 to 18. The summit will no longer be held as a summit; it will be an economic conference, as was done in Cairo in 1996. Therefore, participation in the conference will be at the ministerial level, not at the level of heads of state.

The name change is an apparent response to the various uneasy reactions of several Arab states over Israel being represented at Mena while peace negotiations remain deadlocked and Tel Aviv is failing to fulfil its obligations under the Oslo accords.

The decision made by the Qatari authorities was announced last night in Doha by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Abdullah Al Mahmoud. Following the "positive circumstances with respect to the Middle East peace process," Mr. Al Mahmoud said that Qatar decided to begin sending official invitations for the Mena conference as of early next week (starting Saturday).

The invitations will be sent to all nations that participated in the previous three Mena conferences held in Casablanca, Amman and Cairo. Israel was declared to be one of the nations that will receive an official invitation. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not receive an official invitation as was planned since the summit has been downgraded.

The original Mena summit, held in Casablanca the first time, was hailed as proof of "the economic benefits of the peace process," but subsequent conferences have seen a shift away from the political aspect towards providing a forum for developing trade in the region.

In response to criticism of Israeli participation, Qatari officials have
pointed out that the Israelis will not get any benefits from Mena if
Arab businessmen are not interested in striking deals with them.

Qatar was chosen as a host country at the Mena summit held in the
Jordanian capital, Amman, in 1995. The conference is an international event held by the two co-sponsors of the Middle East peace process, in collaboration with the European Union and Japan.

The holding of the conference is an international obligation that Qatar, as a host country, should meet, the Qatari minister stressed. About the level of GCC participation in the conference, he said it is
difficult to give a clear picture until invitations are officially extended. Nevertheless, applications to join the conference "have already been received from GCC private sector," he said.

The minister expressed confidence that the conference and contacts made there will "benefit the Arab countries since it is an international
forum bringing together various countries." There will be a new
participant taking part in the Doha conference, the Asians, because
Qatar is very actively part of the Asian continent.

On Syria's position toward the conference, the Minister said Qatar
appreciates and understands Syria's position which had been adopted since the first Mena summit. "We hope that Syria will appreciate the fact that this is an international conference and that being committed to it is a duty."

Preparations for the conference are well under way with a budget set at around.

Previous Stories:
  Germany supports Qatar in MENA   (9/29/1997)
  AL secretary conditions participation in Doha conference on progress in peace   (9/23/1997)
  Syrian Algeria cooperation talks   (9/16/1997)

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