17 - 23 May 2001
Issue No.534
|
Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 17 - 23 May 2001 Issue No.534 |
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
Moussa's mission
Widely described as "the Arabs' foreign minister" even while holding the post in the Egyptian administration, Moussa now has to answer to 22 Arab states and, perhaps more significantly, to the high expectations of their peoples. Can he do it?
Amr Moussa's move from the Foreign Ministry to the Arab League excited speculation both in Egypt and abroad. But as Moussa began his new job on Wednesday, discussion moved to his plans for the League. The League has long been seen as 'the sick-man of the Arabs', blamed, often unjustly, for the various crises and ailments from which the Arab world suffered. Observers are keen to see whether the League's new Secretary-General can come up with the right tonic to revive it.
A week of celebrations and commemorations: outgoing Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdel-Meguid receives a medal of honour from Arafat (top); Moussa is honoured for 10 years of service at the Foreign Ministry by Atef Ebeid photos: Abdel-Wahab El-Seheiti, Ayman Barayez, Mohamed Lutfi and Mohamed Abdel-Fattah
The new secretary-general has no illusions about the scale of the obstacles he faces. "I know it is a big and difficult task," Moussa said a few days before starting work. But many suspect substantial change is afoot.
Al-Ahram's editor-in-chief, Ibrahim Nafie, wrote on the daily's front page on Monday, "When Moussa assumes his new job as secretary general of the Arab League, I believe the League will enter a new phase altogether." According to Nafie's editorial, Moussa's "charisma, determination, professional qualities and dedicated nationalism" are sure to help him. Nevertheless, Nafie sounded a note of caution. "Amr Moussa and the difficult task," was the title he gave his commentary.
Although the details of Moussa's plans are not yet clear, his broad strategic intentions are coming into focus. Al-Ahram Weekly has learnt that Moussa is likely to restructure the League, introducing some new departments and scrapping others. Sources close to Moussa also say that, as a necessary first step in turning the League into a lively instrument, Moussa wants Arab countries to adhere rigorously to pan-Arab resolutions. "Towards this objective, Moussa intends to exert every possible effort to follow up on the implementation of every single resolution taken by the annual Arab summit," a source said. Moussa will also canvass views from around the region; the Weekly has learnt that he will visit every Arab state for consultations.
"He is not going to do them all at one go. But he is certainly going to do them all, not missing any one country, particularly not Iraq," a source said.
Yet notwithstanding his planned regional tours, Moussa already has solid ideas about the role he wants the League to play in Arab affairs. He is determined to use the League to improve Arab economic standing. "As far as Moussa is concerned the League is not about making statements about Arab rights. It is about encouraging moves that serve the Arabs' interests on the political and the economic fronts. Therefore, the new Arab League will give dedicated attention to the economic aspect," a close aide told the Weekly.
Moussa's early schedule appears to confirm this. Among his first tasks will be the consolidating of a plan launched last week in Morocco by four Arab Mediterranean countries. The plan aims to achieve closer economic cooperation among Arab Mediterranean states. Moussa will also be busy during his first weeks as secretary-general preparing for the Arab economic conference that Egypt will host in November. The conference is likely to be the first major occasion for Moussa to show his substance as League secretary-general.
But economics alone will not dominate the agenda. Moussa remains keen to address the important political issues of the region. "Moussa will not turn the League into an economic forum only, and forget about politics. Not at all," an aide told the Weekly. "He also has clear plans about the political role of the League," the aide added. Specifically, Moussa, "wants to make sure that the League is there to serve the concerned Arab capitals in reaching a collective and unified stance on how to deal with Israel during this very difficult time," a source said. "The objective remains that of reaching a just and comprehensive peace that fulfills legitimate Arab demands, including the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state," the source added.
Iraq also features prominently among the political issues Moussa hopes to tackle effectively, sources say. "He knows that there is no magic cure but he knows also that he has enough good contacts in the Arab world that could help him move in the right direction," an aide remarked. Other items on Moussa's agenda for the coming five years include closer coordination between the Arab League and the sub-regional Arab groups; better dialogue between Arab countries and Turkey and Iran; and closer ties between the League and Arab communities.
Moussa has been in office barely a day. But already the indications are that he intends to shake a lot of accumulated dust off the pan-Arab organisation, with a view to developing it into a meaningful regional instrument in capable of dealing effectively with Arab political and economic concerns. Renowned political analyst, Mohamed Hassanein Heikal, has remarked that Moussa has the quality and the public support that could help him to make a difference. If he is to effectively revive the League, the new Secretary-General will need a good measure of both attributes.
Across the street
AMR MOUSSA'S first day in office as Arab League secretary-general was busy, to put it mildly. The new secretary-general arrived at the Tahrir Square headquarters of the League a few minutes before 10 yesterday morning for an immediate meeting with heads of departments and their assistants.League sources say that during the meeting Moussa "firmly" announced that the League "has to change."
This was also what Moussa told reporters during his first press briefing. "It is a new century for which there has to be a new Arab League," he said. He added that member-states have approved his plans for administrative reform. Moussa also said that he is in contact with Arab officials regarding redefining the political and economic role of the organisation. "The objective is to make the League a distinguished and respected regional organisation," he said.
Moussa's first appointment as Arab League secretary-general was with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. In a joint press conference Arafat said that he is looking for more support from the Arab League for the Palestinian cause. Arafat also wished Moussa well. "I am here to convey the best wishes of all the Palestinian people to our beloved brother Amr Moussa, as he takes up his new responsibilities," he said.
In answer, Moussa promised that the Arab League will exert all political efforts to support legitimate Palestinian rights.
Turning to more mundane matters, Moussa also toured the entire headquarters of the League and gave instructions for repair work to begin immediately.
Moussa will be busy in the days to come. His first major appointment comes next Saturday, when he will chair a meeting of selected Arab foreign ministers. The meeting is responsible for enacting the resolutions of the last Arab summit, and is being held early in response to a Palestinian request.
© Copyright Al-Ahram Weekly. All rights reserved
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
| ARCHIVES Letter from the Editor Editorial Board Subscription Advertise! |
WEEKLY ONLINE: www.ahram.org.eg/weekly Updated every Saturday at 11.00 GMT, 2pm local time weeklyweb@ahram.org.eg |
 Al-Ahram Organisation |
Recommend this page