Qatar expects more Arab countries to participate in Mena
Regional, Politics, 10/27/1997

Qatar has expressed new hopes for a stronger participation from Arab countries in the Middle East and North African Economic Conference to be held next month in Doha.

Speaking today, a spokesman from Qatari Foreign Ministry focused on the economic importance of the conference, noting that such an international meeting in which major companies are to participate should attract all Arab countries to take benefits from it for their own economic progress and growth. He said that the volume of transactions of some of the companies which will participate in the conference is greater than those of some Arab countries put together and this creates wonderful opportunities for Arab countries to benefit from them.

However, the Qatari official said that his country understands the motives of both those who decide to attend and those who decide to stay away from the conference. He considered that attending the conference or staying away from it would not constitute a reason for disagreement between different Arab countries, assuring that Qatar is part of the Arab World and belongs to it, regardless of circumstances. He said that Arab countries might disagree on the tactics but certainly not on the ultimate objective.

"At a time when we consider it more effective to take the challenge by denying Israel the chance of becoming a sole player in the Middle East, some others prefer to use the boycott weapon to express dissatisfaction over Israeli behavior," he added.

He considered that all Arab countries share the same views regarding Israeli behavior and would not expect any comprehensive peace to be established in the region unless Israel complies with the following demands: abiding by international agreements and the principle of land for peace, stopping all settlement building plans, resuming peace talks with Syria from the point where they stopped, and withdrawing from South Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said that Israel must freeze settlement building on the West Bank before Egypt would consider attending next month's regional economic conference in Qatar.

Mr. Mubarak was speaking at a ceremony in northern Egypt yesterday marking the start of a project to irrigate the north Sinai desert with water from the Nile. "At least, a freeze in settlement (on the West Bank)," he told reporters when asked to detail what progress in the Israeli-Arab peace process Cairo wants before deciding to attend Mena conference in Doha.

Jordan's Foreign Minister Fayez Tarawneh reiterated that his country would actively participate in the conference. He said that his country aimed at gaining economic benefits from the conference.

Kuwait was supposed to give its final decision yesterday on whether to participate or not in Mena conference, but no reports have yet been received on the Kuwaiti Cabinet's decision.

Previous Stories:
  Lebanese citizens banned from entering Qatar?   (10/24/1997)
  Jordan announced its official delegation to MENA   (10/23/1997)
  Qatar says Israel is undermining peace but wants Arabs to attend Mena   (10/23/1997)

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