Arab League directs strong criticism to US State Department on normalization between Israel and Mauritania
Regional-USA, Politics, 11/2/1999

Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid directed strong criticism yesterday to the statements made by the spokesman of the US State Department regarding the Arab League's stance toward establishing diplomatic relations between Israel.

US State Department spokesman James Rubin said last week, "Let me say there is the Arab League and then there is the Arab League. There are the countries that make up the Arab League, and then there is the Secretariat of the Arab League, and those are often different things."

He added, "In recent weeks, there have been other developments that, maybe, some Secretariat officials of the Arab League don't like very much, including the fact that the President of Algeria, Mr. Bouteflika, had met with Prime Minister Barak at the funeral of King Hassan of Morocco, and then President Bouteflika met with other ministers from the Israeli Government.

"There are other steps that are being taken by a number of countries to intensify their engagement with Israel, and I am sure there are some fossils who want to stay locked in the past," he continued.

Abdul Meguid described the US spokesman as having limited knowledge of Arab affairs, saying that there is no room for the US spokesman's interference in Arab stances.

Previous Stories:
  There is no progress in the peace process that requires establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, Arab League   (11/1/1999)
  Two Mauritanian journalists expelled from their union over visiting Israel   (11/1/1999)
  Arab League criticizes Mauritania's relations with Israel   (10/30/1999)

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