Beirut hosts Arab FMs coordination meeting

Arab foreign ministers on Monday held a ministerial coordination meeting for the member-states of the Barcelona gathering.

The participants are coordinating their positions before heading to Palermo, Italy tomorrow, agreeing upon a united position to prevent any Israeli efforts to separate policy from economy. They will also call on Europe to pressure Israel to implement United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz opened the Beirut meeting, held in the presence of the Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdul Meguid, stressing in his opening speech that the meeting is a good sign of the importance of adopting a united Arab stand. He noted the Israeli attempts made to isolate policy from economy and from security and all other issues set for discussion in the first Barcelona meeting.

The Lebanese FM added that the Palermo meeting must be clear and well defined in its results in order not to make Israel benefit from its maneuvers. He called upon Europe to play a constructive role in backing the peace process and in safeguarding its principles launched in Madrid seven years ago. "Europe is concerned with the peace process, with the region's geography and security; with the nuclear situation and with economic interests an the region. Europe is capable of dealing properly with such issues," Boueiz indicated.

Later in the day, the Arab foreign ministers concluded in the evening their first session. Boueiz said in a press conference that the ministers had authorized him to speak in the name of the Arab states at Palermo conference. He added the Arab ministers have formed a drafting committee to work out the political texts which will constitute the basis for their countries' attitude in Palermo.

He added that participants in the meeting will discuss preparations to hold a similar gathering due in Palermo Italy on Wednesday and Thursday.

Syria's foreign minister, Farouk al-Sharaa, who arrived in Beirut to take part in the meeting said in reply to questions put by reporters at Beirut airport: "Syria is keen on ensuring the success of this meeting which is held for the first time prior to the European-Mediterranean meetings. It is a good beginning and will give the Europeans and other parties a good impression."

Al-Sharaa added that discussions will deal with political, economic, social and cultural topics on the agenda of Palermo meeting, and "unite our stand on these issues", noting there is no difficulty in reaching a common understanding among the Arab states. On contacts being made to hold a new Arab summit meeting, the Syrian FM said talks are being conducted among Arab leaders to discuss best ways of defending Arab rights and interests which are undergoing grave danger as a result of the Israeli policies.

Sharaa stated that, "The peace process reached a dangerous crisis and that is Israel's responsibility," expressing his hope that the Arab views meet with the European views.

Sharaa described the statements of French President Jacques Chirac over the Security Council resolution 425, calling for Israel to resume negotiations with Syria as a precondition to talks with Lebanon, as being strong and good and giving a clear French position.

Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia are taking part in the meeting.