 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 7 - 13 September 2000 Issue No. 498 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
|
||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 7 - 13 September 2000 Issue No. 498
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
|
||
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Meeting like clockwork
The meeting of Arab League foreign ministers, titled the "Jerusalem Session" and held in Cairo this week, was significant for several reasons. First, the ministers reminded the world of a decision Arab leaders took at a summit in Amman in 1980, warning that the Arab countries would sever all ties with any country that moves its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem. Although the United States was not mentioned by name in the League's final statement, the message was clear to both Democratic and Republican candidates in the upcoming US presidential elections. Bush Jr and Gore now know -- if they did not before -- that they must be extremely careful before carrying out the decision taken by Congress last year to move the US embassy to Jerusalem. As Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdel-Meguid warned, the consequences of such a move, which candidates in US elections are using to win Jewish votes, will be "very dangerous." The Arab ministers also renewed a call to the international community to recognise the Palestinian state whenever it is declared "within this year."Equally important to the Arab-Israeli conflict was the mechanism the foreign ministers agreed to establish, and which is intended to allow the convening of annual Arab summits starting in March 2001. Most Arabs believe that when their leaders meet regularly on such a high level, there are fewer chances for misunderstandings to become entrenched, or for differences among the Arab countries to grow deeper. Other regional groupings, such as the Organisation of African Unity and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, hold regular conferences; there is no reason why Arab leaders cannot meet and discuss the many challenges facing them.
For many years, Arab governments have been talking about enhancing economic cooperation, even if agreeing on political issue is still not possible at this stage. Increasing trade, opening borders and allowing freedom of movement for Arab nationals within the Arab world are first steps toward unity on political matters. The experience of European Union, which is as old the Arab League, proves the validity of this view. What is important, however, is to translate words into action at a time when the majority of Arabs have lost faith in talk of Arab unity, given the virtual absence of concrete measures on the ground.
