Arab foreign ministers were heading toward agreement yesterday on a formula for political reform in the Middle East, despite âstormyâ discussions in the run-up to their summit here, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said. âWe are in the process of formulating a common Arab position about the future of the Middle East, which is neither great nor small,â Moussa told a press conference on the sidelines of ministerial talks aimed at preparing for the summit on Monday and Tuesday.
| "It's neither wide nor narrow. It's neither tall nor short. It's neither red nor blue, black nor white. It's not solid, nor is it liquid, nor is it — quite — gas..." |
Moussa was supporting remarks by Arab governments that they had begun political reform before Washington mentioned its âGreater Middle East Initiativeâ for democratic change, which they say could amount to interference in their domestic affairs. The Arab League chief said the foreign ministers have been studying a document drafted by a committee formed overnight Friday based on Egyptian, Jordanian, Tunisian, Qatari and Yemeni ideas, but more work was needed. âWe asked for improvements and we will approve (the draft) later today,â Moussa said after admitting the discussions had been âstormy.â
| "Many of us were holding out for gas..." |
The foreign ministers do not want an Arab reform plan derailed by anger over Israelâs killing of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin last Monday. Earlier, a senior official said the Arab proposal for reform includes plans to set up a committee â composed of two representatives from each country â which will have six months to draft a formula for implementing the objectives and âlend credibility to this reform plan.â
"Forming a committee is what tiggers we do best!" |
The leaders are expected to discuss not just the reform plan, but also the Arab-Israeli conflict, Iraq and reform of the 22-member Arab League. Syria does not want the summit to discuss offering Israel any more peace proposals. Damascus insists that Israel be punished for assassinating the quadriplegic Palestinian leader. At his press conference, Moussa said the Arab quest for peace was a strategic position that will not change despite what he said was the lack of a peace partner in Israel. âIt is wrong to withdraw the Arab initiative,â he said. âThere is no amendment. The stance is solid, unshakable and we will not back off from it. But we donât see a partner in Israel that is ready for peace,â Moussa said.
| "That's why we haven't made them an offer. That's why we don't negotiate with them. That's why we give money to people who try to kill them." |
Arab governments have accused Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his right-wing government of not seriously seeking peace. Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem said Arabs still insisted on peace and that it was Israel which was blocking attempts to reach a settlement. âWe want to reaffirm our commitment for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace through the Arab peace initiative,â he said. âIsrael doesnât want peace.â Tunisian Foreign Minister Habib Ben Yahia told the same news conference that Presidents Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Bashar Assad of Syria had informed Tunis they will take part in the summit. |