Mauritania for common Arab work

Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid on Wednesday received a message from President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya of Mauritania, in which he stressed his country's desire to take part in the activities run by the Arab League and in backing the march of common Arab work.

The message was conveyed by Mauritania's ambassador to the AL Muhammad Wild Heibah upon receiving his credentials as an ambassador to the AL.

The Mauritanian ambassador said his country is careful to take part in the activities of the AL. He added that the decision taken by his country to "establish diplomatic relations with Israel comes in the framework of the exerted Arab efforts to strengthen confidence among sides concerned for achieving a genuine progress towards establishing a just and comprehensive peace in the region and giving things forward on various peace tracks."

He denied reports that boycotting relations between his country and Iraq has any connection with establishing diplomatic relations with Israel. He commented: "Severing relations with Iraq had other reasons," and there are "several provocative explanations released by the Arab states including distortion of facts in this regard," considering the step to establishing relations with Israel as "a logical step" in the framework of the Middle East peace process.

He stated that his meeting with Abdul Meguid did not deal with the tensions between the AL and Mauritania. He said, "We discussed the current Arab conditions, and the atmospheres are currently positive."