Arab Parliamentary Union refuses Barak's four No's

Ahmed Fathi Sorour, the speaker of the Egyptian People's Assembly and head of the Arab Parliamentary Union stated that the union opposes the four "No's" of Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak.

In his statements in Beirut, Sorour said yesterday that the union has strategic stands toward the peace process in the Middle East.

He added that "if Barak says 'No,' we will also say 'no' to him, because we have our legal rights."

Sorour, moreover, asked for Israel to apply international legitimacy decisions, adding that the USA is supporting the Arab position calling for achieving peace and stability in the region.

Sorour added that the Arab Parliamentary Union will discuss several issues during its coming meeting in Damascus on June 27 - 28, including Arab solidarity, peace and the Iraqi crisis.

He added that Kuwait will not attend this session for the first time, attributing to this to the dissolution of the Kuwaiti Nation's Council and pointing out that an Iraqi delegation will take part in these meetings.

Sorour said, "The APU gives priority to Arab solidarity and peace issues and it is only natural that those topics figure high on Damascus conference agenda along with the Iraqi file and pressing causes to be raised for discussion."

He added in a statement to MENA that after the Damascus conference, there will be a meeting held in Damascus regarding the Arab common market.

"We have now an image for the Arab parliament represented in the APU. But we do not want the APU in its traditional picture, rather we wish it to be an Arab parliament after the hoped-for Arab common market is realized," Sorour stated.