Calls for pan-Arab summit continue
Regional-Regional, Politics, 6/18/1999

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa has opposed reservations to convening an Arab summit conference. He asserted the importance of convening a pan-Arab summit, stating that his country finds no reason not to convene such a summit.

Yemeni Premier Abdul Karim al-Iryani voiced backing for convening a comprehensive Arab summit.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Foreign Minister Muhammad Saeed al-Sahaf is expected to arrive in Cairo on Sunday to meet with Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid.

The Iraqi daily al-Thawra said the "current conditions require convening an Arab summit," including all, "in order to restore Arab solidarity."

The Egyptian foreign minister said, "Inter-Arab problems should not prevent the convening of a pan-Arab summit, which has not been held since June 1996."

Moussa stressed that the current standing problems in the Arab world necessitate the convening of such a summit.

The Yemeni official repeated Yemen's call for convening regular Arab summits. He added that his country is in support of the comprehensive Arab summit and had never called for a partial Arab summit.

He continued, "Purifying the Arab atmospheres should be part of the summit rather than a set preconditions to convening it."

The Yemeni official also met with Abdul Meguid. Following the meeting, al-Iryani praised the efforts exerted by the AL chief to unify Arab ranks and maintain Arab reconciliation.

Replying to a question on Iraq's possible participation in the Arab summit, the AL chief said, "We talked about a summit attended by all countries including Iraq."

Meanwhile, Iraq's representative to the AL, Sultan al-Chadi, told journalists in Cairo that al-Sahaf will visit Cairo on Sunday to meet with the AL chief. It is not known however, whether al-Sahaf will hold talks with officials at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

However, Arab diplomatic sources stressed that al-Sahaf's visit aims at finding out and exploring about the Arab position towards the participation of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in the summit. Such a participation would be the first since the Gulf crisis.

Previous Stories:
  Moussa says problems face convening Arab summit   (6/17/1999)
  Egypt, Sudan relations to witness great development   (6/17/1999)

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