Five-member Arab FMs meeting discusses Middle East peace, Iraqi crisis
Regional, Politics, 1/15/1999

The foreign ministers of Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman discussed in their meeting held in Cairo on Wednesday night means of salvaging the Middle East peace process.

Well-informed diplomatic sources in Cairo said the five ministers also discussed the Iraqi crisis in their meeting and reached certain positions in this respect that will be reviewed in the conference of the of the Arab Foreign ministers due to be held in Cairo on January 24 at the headquarters of the Arab League.

The sources added that Wednesday's meeting falls in the course of following up on the five-member meeting held in al-Ghardaqa last week on the level of Arab FMs. In this respect Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid underlined the importance of "these consultative meetings."

In a statement to SANA in Cairo on Thursday, the AL chief added, "Such meetings are needed before convening the consultation meeting of the Arab FMs due to be held on January 24," SANA reported.

On Iraq's participation in the consultation meeting of the Arab FMs, the AL chief stated that the latest information to arrive at the AL said that, "Iraq is participating."

On the French proposals on the Iraqi crisis, the AL chief underlined the importance of such French ideas and described them as important, saying they "should be studied carefully."

Meanwhile, Kuwaiti first deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad said that Kuwait will attend the Arab summit even if it is attended by the Iraqi president. The Kuwaiti FM stressed in a statement to the Kuwaiti daily al-Rai al-Am issued on Thursday the need for good preparations for the summit and stated that any failure of the summit will "constitute a catastrophe for the Arabs."

Previous Stories:
  Quorum to convene Arab foreign ministers completed   (1/14/1999)
  Five-way Arab ministerial meeting postponed   (1/13/1999)
  Abdul Meguid refuses Iraqi accusations   (1/12/1999)
  Iraq criticizes Saudi initiative to alleviate embargo   (1/12/1999)

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