Arab follow up committee meets in Damascus
The meetings if the Arab Follow up committee stemmed from the emergency Arab summit on Sunday started its meetings at the level of foreign ministers of the Arab states members of the Committee including Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Bahrain, Palestine and the Arab league (AL).
In an inaugural speech, the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara said that the formation of this committee from the Arab East and al-Maghreb proves that:" We are all preoccupied by developments in the occupied Palestinian lands. These developments should have reflections on the whole situation in the region."
He continued as saying: " We are all concerned with what is going on and we are all threatened in our lands and rights. It is not suffice to resort to international legitimacy resolutions which are very important. Israeli should abide by them rather we have to work our utmost for applying them." He asserted that this meeting is held in the holy month of Ramadan., noting that in this month the Arab leaders instructed the committee to do its best for implementing the required measures.
He said that we are demanded to implement the Arab summit's resolutions, particularly severing all forms of relations with Israel with the objective of achieving a just and comprehensive peace. This is the point which we must make use of as a peaceful weapon in our hand.
Al-Shara said: " we do not call for a war in spite of the fact that Israel is calling for a war everyday and practicing this war."
He added that "almost one and a half years ago, Barak said he wanted peace and he was elected on this basis. The result was that he achieved neither security nor peace."
The resignation of Barak of Saturday, whether it was a maneuver or deception, confirms one thing that is unless there has been a change in the Israeli mentality, we should not put great expectations on those who govern Israel no mater if they are right or left.
He remarked that one year and a half has elapsed without achieving any thing. On the contrary, the situation was deteriorated in the occupied Palestinian territories. Earlier to this, the situation was explosive in Lebanon but ended with israel's unconditional withdrawal.
Al-Shara stressed that if Israel continues with its current policy, it will not achieve its goals in the future because it cannot co-exist with the Palestinian people due to its racism, and on the other hand it will be deceived by its military force.
For his part, the Egyptian foreign minister Amre Mousa arrived in damascus on Sunday to take part in the meetings. He said in an arrival statement that there should be a need to underline the necessity of Arab co-ordination meetings which provide the opportunity for an open discussion of developments.
On the Israeli threats against Syria and Lebanon, Mousa indicated that the follow up committee is scheduled to discuss the overall situation in the region, the peace process and the threat and their repercussions.
Also arrived to attend the meetings were the Palestinian official in charge of planning and international co-operation at the palestinian Authority Nabil Shaath, the secretary general of the Arab league Al Ismat Abdul Miguid, Bahrain's foreign minister Muhammad Bin Mubarak al-Khaleifa, the Lebanese foreign minister Mahmoud Hammoud, Jordan's foreign minister Abdul Ellah al-Khatib, Tunisia's foreign minister Habib Bin Yahya, the Saudi deputy foreign minister Nizar Madani and the chairman of the PLO political department farouk al-Qaddoumi.
