4 - 10 October 2001
Issue No.554
|
Al-Ahram Weekly Online 4 - 10 October 2001 Issue No.554 |
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
Campaigning for reason
Even as the world counts down for the US's imminent military operation in Afghanistan, Cairo is stepping up its efforts to ensure a "reasoned" campaign against terrorism
The sigh of relief that came out of Cairo and other Arab capitals at the seemingly significant change of tone in the American administration's "war on terror" was very real, even if it was not all that long on exhalation. No longer on the cards was the series of devastating attacks on Afghanistan and, worse, other allegedly terrorism- sponsoring states -- all Arab -- which Washington's initial reaction to the horror of 11 September seemed to indicate. As one informed source close to Egyptian diplomatic circles noted with a measure of satisfaction, the Americans are no longer talking of an operation but a long term campaign; the anti-terrorism coalition is no longer defined strictly as a war alliance, but is now being formulated in fairly broad and loose terms, allowing various countries to take part in some aspects of the battle against terrorism and not others.
President Mubarak with Syria's Vice President Khaddam; and Palestinian President Arafat
Egypt, which boasts a long and ultimately successful battle against Islamist terrorism at home, is said to be engaged in extensive security cooperation with Washington on the 11 September attack (see accompanying story by Ahmed Moussa).
Possible US military action against one or more Arab states, most notably Iraq, have for the most part been discounted by Egyptian officials -- at least for the time being. During his visit to Washington last week, Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said he had received American assurances that no Arab country will be targeted. "It is evident," he said, "that the US is focusing on Bin Laden, and that there is no thinking of widening the confrontation."
And while Cairo is doubtlessly pleased at the lifting of UN sanctions against Sudan, and the apparent opening of a new leaf in US relations with Khartoum, the Palestinian question remains Egypt's most pressing concern. Washington's signals in this regard have been encouraging. "I believe that the major powers, the US included, have realised that the Middle East is a very sensitive region, and that not resolving some conflicts in the region is a dangerous option," said President Hosni Mubarak's political adviser Osama El-Baz last week.
Washington's revitalised engagement in the Israeli-Palestinian confrontation -- which resulted in last week's meeting between Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and the now defunct cease fire agreement -- was not, however, the result of "a barter exchange" with the Arab states in return for their support in its war on terrorism, Maher insisted in statements to the press following a meeting with Arafat on Sunday. He noted, however, that the US's new attitude was not removed from the requirements of the confrontation with terrorism. It reflected, Maher said, a recognition by the US that there is a link between areas of tension and terrorism. "The mood of despair and hopelessness which continues to prevail in the Palestinian territories as a result of Israeli policies provides those who would take advantage of the situation to find people willing to cooperate with them," said Maher.
It remains to be seen whether the Arab sigh of relief was premature. The collapse of the Palestinian-Israeli cease fire is a grim sign, though the Arabs took heart from the statement by US President George W Bush on Monday in which he spoke favourably of Palestinian statehood.
For the time being, however, Egyptian officials are putting the best face possible on developments, satisfied that Washington has been responsive to their lobbying efforts and hopeful at the apparent upper hand the "doves", represented by Secretary of State Colin Powel, appear to hold within the US administration at present.
Meanwhile, Cairo has continued to engage in intensive contacts with Arab and other players to coordinate positions and push for a reasoned response to the terrorist attacks against the US, fully aware that America's "war on terror" and its imminent military operation in Afghanistan has the potential of destabilising the whole Muslim and Arab world.
Significantly, President Mubarak held phone consultations with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah, dispatching Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher to Riyadh on Tuesday to follow-up on discussions between the two key Arab players.
Mubarak also met with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on Sunday where discussions inevitably focused on the crumbling cease-fire between the Palestinians and Israel. At the same time El-Baz met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's aide, Danny Naveh, for talks on "a wide range of issues, including the repercussions of the latest attacks on the US," according to the Israeli embassy in Cairo.
The next day, Mubarak held talks with Syrian Vice President Abdel-Halim Khaddam to reach "a joint perspective which ensures Arab cooperation and protects their interest." Khaddam told reporters that Cairo and Damascus were engaged "in close coordination and consultations regarding way to confront potential dangers to the region."
Such "dangers" also topped the agenda in three-way talks between, Maher and Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal on Tuesday in Riyadh. Indications that the three Arab heavyweights might also be coordinating positions with Iran were denied by Maher, however. "We should not mix issues," he said in Riyadh, describing contacts with the Saudis, Syrians, on one hand, and Iranians on the other, as separate tracks.
By Nevine Khalil and Soha Abdelaty
© 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