The Arab foreign ministers meeting in the Arab League
Regional, Politics, 9/13/1999

The Arab foreign ministers decided at the conclusion of their works today under the chairmanship of Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Said al-Sahaf who headed the session of the Arab League Council for the first time since his country's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 to form a committee to discuss with the Walt Disney company the problem of an exhibit in the USA which reportedly refers to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Taalat Hamed, the Arab League's spokesman, said the committee will inform the organizers of their non-approval regarding the exhibit which presents Jerusalem as capital of Israel as well as their refusal to display a film regarding this matter.

He added that Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid received a phone call from manager of Disney group, Michael Eisner, who expressed his deep sorrow and denied the desire of giving any political content to this new exhibition.

The ministers also decided that if company does not commit to the decision, that the Arab league will take the proper and necessary procedures to confront the situation.

The council authorized the Arab League's secretary general to make the necessary communications in coordination with the Arab and Islamic organizations with the company to clarify the risk of its stance on Jerusalem case and to communicate the results of his communications to the AL member states.

The ministers also hailed the European Union's clear stance comprised in Berlin summit statement, which reaffirms the Palestinians' right to self-determination and looks forward to an early achievement of this right.

The council condemned any accusations directed at the Sudanese government alleging the existence of slavery in Sudan and paying attention to Arab dangers of targeting another Arab state to direct the same accusation against it.

The council asked all countries and international organizations to stop directing unjustified accusations that target Sudan and the Arab states, considering this a campaign to deform the Muslims' and the Arabs' image.

The ministers drew attention to the risk foreign interference in Sudan's affairs causes to stability and security in the area and condemned any decisions to support dissent, especially support for imposing no-fly zones in Sudan.

The Sudanese council hailed the Sudanese government's efforts to achieve national reconciliation.

Abdul Meguid was authorized to do what is necessary regarding the follow-up mechanism for implementing the league's resolutions to back up Sudan in all regional and international circles with international organizations, among which are the UN Security Council and United Nations.

The ministers denounced the US threat to launch a new attack on Sudan, which they said forms an undermining of international law and the United Nations charter.

The ministers urged the international community to confront the use of military power to solve problems between countries and to support non-interference in countries' internal affairs.

The ministers decided to present an item proposed by Libya, to create a unified Arab airline and to consider all Arab states' airspace as united, to the Arab transportation cabinet to be discussed on November 2.

Libya previously presented this subject to the Arab transportation cabinet in its 27th session held on May 19, and the bureau gave it to the Arab union for air transportation to be studied.

A joint meeting will be held between the Arab organization for civil aviation and the Arab union for air transportation on September 29 in Riyadh to coordinate between them regarding this mechanism that will be raised to the Arab transportation cabinet.

Regarding the procedures and threats to which Libya is exposed from the USA and UK due to the conflict concerning the Lockerbie case, the Arab foreign ministers urged the UN Security Council for the immediate and permanent lifting of the sanctions against Libya.

The current head of the Organization of African Unity called for sending messages to the United Nations secretary general and the head of the Security Council to lift up the sanctions finally and rapidly.

The council hailed the guardian of the two holy mosques, King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz and former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, for their efforts in solving the Lockerbie crisis as well as all the African leaders who exerted tremendous efforts when they supported Libya's demand for providing all proper guarantees and circumstances to hold a fair trial for the suspects.

The council urged the UK government to stop sheltering terrorist elements because the facilities it provides helps them practice their destructive activities. It also stressed the necessity of making legal arrangements to monitor terrorists' movements and deliver the Arab states of concern lists with their names as well as handing them over to their countries as being wanted for justice.

Regarding the Israeli - Turkish military cooperation and its effect on security and stability in the area, the council expressed deep anxiety over the establishment of military cooperation between Turkey and Israel and urged Turkey to reconsider this cooperation, aiming at canceling it for the risks it causes to the Arab states' security as well as authorizing the AL secretary general to follow up on the decision and present a report to the council in its coming session.

The council also expressed anxiety for Turkey's continuation in establishing dams and other projects on Euphrates and Degla rivers without consultation with its seaside countries in using the two international rivers.

The council urged Turkey to enter into trilateral negotiations with Iraq and Syria as soon as possible to reach a final agreement for a reasonable and fair evaluation of the water that guarantees the three countries' rights to the two rivers' water.

The council also urged the AL member states to reconsider their dealings with corporations and companies that have things to do with implementing the Turkish projects on the two rivers to help reach a trilateral agreement.

The council also urged its member states to quickly ratify the agreement to use international waters for non-navigational purposes, authorizing the AL secretary general to continue exerting efforts with Turkey to accept a fair solution to the problem according to rules of international law.

The council also called for pressuring Israel to join the non-proliferation treaty and to place its establishments under the international monitoring efforts of the follow-up committee on the Israeli nuclear activity.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco hosts 9th ministerial conference of G-77   (9/11/1999)
  Arab states call on AL to confront Disney exhibition   (9/11/1999)
  Arab economic council meeting postponed   (9/11/1999)

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