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| Arabia |
| US-Islamic forum starts in Doha |
| 2004-01-11 |
| The US-Islamic World Forum has opened in Doha amid an outpouring of concern over the deteriorating Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Inaugurating the conference, the Emir of Qatar, Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani said conditions in the occupied territories have worsened to an "unacceptable" extent. He urged the United States and international community to step in as Israel uses âexcessive violenceâ against Palestinians which he said are a violation of international law, UN principles and human rights. The Emir said the Islamic world questioned why Washington, the main Middle East peace broker, has not stepped in to halt Israelâs acts. Organised by the US-based Brookings Institutionâs Saban Centre for Middle East Policy along with Qatar, the conference is aimed at defining what divides the US and Islamic world and bridging the gaps, said Martin Indyk, Saban Centreâs director. Indyk, a former US ambassador to Israel, described the task as âvery difficultâ due to profound misunderstandings between the two worlds. However, he felt optimistic that the Doha forum would generate ideas to advance the interests of both sides. But in the opening address, many participants discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and occupation of Iraq. Some 10 months into the war, US-led forces have yet to restore stability and security to occupied Iraq. The invasion, not authorised by any UN resolution, soured already tense ties between the US and Muslim world due to the September 11 2001 attacks in New York and Washington. And now there are rising fears over Iraqâs territorial integrity as ethnic tensions grow in the heavily-populated Kurdish north. Qatarâs Emir called for maintaining the countryâs unity, stressing the need for Iraqis to choose their leadership and government. Conference participant Edward Djerejian, Director of the Baker Institute, echoed these comments, saying the worst case scenario would be a territorial disintegration of Iraq. Racked by ongoing violence, the turning point for Iraq will be when Iraqis agree on a political, economic and cultural agreement and implement it, said the former US ambassador to Syria. He believed this would occur when the future governmentâs political system provides all groups equal decision-making powers. Djerejian, a former US State Department expert to the Middle East, served under former US President George Bush Snr's administration. Speaking to Aljazeera.net, he said he had asked Kurdish leaders Jalal Talabani and Masud Barzani in 1991, about their aspirations in Iraq. "They said in their hearts, they wanted an autonomous country, but in their heads they knew this was not possible," he said. They understand that the creation of a sovereign Kurdistan would unleash havoc with neighbours Syria and Turkey, who host Kurdish populations, said the career diplomat. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #3 Restore Stability? He means, like the peace and tranquility -- and hundreds of thousands of unmarked graves -- that marked the regime of Saddam? |
| Posted by: Norman Rogers 2004-1-11 11:52:18 AM |
| #2 Spot-on, ed. Good post. 8-) |
| Posted by: .com 2004-1-11 2:21:31 AM |
| #1 Some 10 months into the war, US-led forces have yet to restore stability and security to occupied Iraq. Some 14 centuries into Mohammed's war with civilization, stability and security has yet to be restored in any part of Dar al Islam The invasion, not authorised by any UN resolution After 14 centuries, UN authorization is still lacking for Mohammed's invasion of Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Hindu, Buddist, Animist, and Atheist lands. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-1-11 1:35:59 AM |