On the EU meeting with Hammoud, Moussa: Humiliation overwhelms the Arab states

The secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa yesterday called following a meeting yesterday in Brussels with the foreign ministers of the European Union, on the EU and the Arab states to work together in "order to spare war against Iraq."

Moussa stressed his rejection to a new UN Security Council resolution on Iraq before debating the "next report of the UN inspectors." Moussa told the press after having lunch with the EU foreign ministers "I believe that not voting a resolution before the next UN inspectors report will be fair and logic, and will reflect a balanced policy." Meantime, the French Foreign minister Dominique De Fillipin indicated that Moussa stressed during the "unique meeting which was made at the invitation of the Greek presidency of the European Union and was attended by the Lebanese foreign minister in his capacity as Arab Summit chair, the "concerns and humiliation overwhelming the Arab states."

Upon his arrival to take part in the meeting, Moussa had called on the European Union and the Arab states to work together in order to "spare war against Iraq." He added they will discuss "means of implementing UN resolutions and simultaneously on avoiding the war." The invitation extended by the EU for Moussa came to bridge the gap between the west and the Arab and Islamic worlds, especially concerning the question of the Arab- Israeli conflict.

Moussa said "we could not underestimate the consequences of any war especially in an area like the Middle East where feelings of frustration are dominant as a result of the Israeli occupation and the aligned stances towards Israel.. otherwise we will not bear continued attacks on us."

It was said that the EU ministers will inform the AL they will call on the US to have a new initiative in the ME peace process.