Arab foreign ministers speak at l09th session convene
Regional, Politics, 3/25/1998

In a closed-door session, the Arab countries' foreign ministers taking part in the 109th session of the Arab League council on Tuesday discussed the deteriorating situation the peace process is in, the necessity of adopting a unified Arab position in this regard.

Latest regional European efforts were also discussed.

In an inaugural speech, the Sudanese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mustafa Othman Ismael stressed the need to strengthen Arab solidarity to deter "challenges targeting the Arab states."

He held the Israeli government responsible for the peace process' deterioration as a result of its violation of the Madrid principles and the land for peace formula. He stressed Arab commitment to a just and comprehensive peace based on Israel's implementation of UN resolutions 242, 338 and 425, providing for its withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories. The Sudanese minister indicated hostile schemes aimed at undermining Sudan's unity.

AL Secretary-General Esmat Abdul Meguid stressed the need to revive joint Arab action to advance Arab causes. He stressed that Israel has halted the peace process by violating the Madrid principles and the land for peace formula and its refusal to carry out obligations concluded with sides concerned.

He asserted the need to halt normalization with Israel and to tighten the economic boycott in implementation of previous AL decisions. He warned against state-run terrorism pursued by Israel in the occupied Arab lands.

Meguid reiterated the AL's opposition on Israeli proposals to maintain conditional withdrawal from south Lebanon, adding Israel intends to separate the Syrian and Lebanese tracks, and undermine UN Security Council resolution 425. The AL chief called for establishing the Arab common market to keep pace in the era of international blocs.

Meguid also spoke of the need to lift sanctions imposed on Libya in light of the decision of the International Court of Justice.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa stated in press declarations on the margin of the meetings that Egypt and the Arab countries disapprove of Israeli threats against Lebanon and Syria. He also considered the declarations of the Israeli Minister of Defense Yitzhak Mordechai in this regard to be a serious escalation of the situation.

After the first session of meetings between the Arab foreign ministers ended, Moussa said they will take the proper decision regarding this escalation.

Commenting on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's call for an urgent Arab summit, Moussa stated that the Arab League is not a venue for discussing this summit, and said it needs a special mechanism differing from the foreign ministers meetings.

In a statement to the press following the meeting, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa said Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai's threats against Lebanon are categorically rejected, not only by Lebanon, but by all Arabs.

He said the meeting expressed all the Arab foreign ministers' anger concerning the Israeli anti-peace policy, adding that discussions stressed the Arab rejection of statements made by the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Mordechai threatening security and stability in the region.

On the resolutions adopted by the AL on boycotting Israel, al-Sharaa said emphasis was placed on reactivating the Arab boycott of Israel.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz said that all the Israeli threats against Lebanon are rejected, adding that Netanyahu intends to torpedo UN Security Council resolution 425 and that attempts were made by Israel to hold separate negotiations with Lebanon.

He said the current Israeli suggestion is places a number of conditions that deprive Lebanon of control over the south and said that accepting these conditions would mean the impossibility of any future Lebanese control over the south.

Previous Stories:
  Arab foreign ministers meet on regional issues   (3/24/1998)
  Arafat in Cairo for a speech to Arab foreign ministers   (3/23/1998)
  Annan, Meguid discuss Israel-Lebanon and regional problems   (3/20/1998)

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