Powell and reforms in the Arab states

A high ranking official at the US Department of State said yesterday that it is expected that the US secretary of state Colin Powell will deliver a speech that have been for long postponed about reforms in the Arab states.

The official who asked to be anonymous said that Powell will talk about what is called by Washington as "Middle East Partnership initiative" which is a program that will cost 25 million dollars and includes scientific scholarships for the Arab citizens to study in the USA and other educational activities.

Powell was due to deliver an important speech about this issue during the UN General Assembly in New York in September but postponed it for reasons among which are the American efforts to win the support for dismantling the Iraqi weapons.

The US President George Bush made of the implementation of democracy in the Arab states one of his foreign policy objectives, however, American officials did not make it clear how they intend to materialize this objective.

Those who criticize the American foreign policy say that there is no difference worthy to be mentioned between the allies and foes of the US in the Middle East when the matter relates to the extent of freedom enjoyed by the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the US has given up the daily mediation efforts between the Israeli and the Palestinians, waiting for the Palestinian authority to implement Washington's demands to make internal reforms.