Arab-American dialogue

Next Sunday in Detroit Arab League Secretary- General Amr Moussa and US Secretary of State Colin Powell will open the first US-Arab Economic Forum. This forum is intended to boost Arab-American economic cooperation. The two-day event, sponsored by the Arab League and Arab-American organisations, also aims at enhancing Arab-American dialogue on the cultural and political levels.

Since the attacks of 11 September sporadic Arab- American disputes have become more frequent and increasingly threatening to Arab-American relations. The US has already occupied one Arab country, Iraq, and is threatening economic sanctions against another, Syria. It is increasingly critical of many of its closes allies, including Saudi Arabia, over a range of issues relating to security, education and religion.

It is in the political and economic interests of neither side to ignore the worrying patterns of bilateral tension. Arab-American dialogue needs to be pursued across the whole range of issues over which disagreement has been manifested.

Arabs and Americans must manage their inevitable differences. They need to agree on the concepts, and pace of the changes preached by Washington. Both sides could benefit from a candid discussion of US foreign policy towards the Middle East. The US needs to take into consideration Arab worries over a prolonged military occupation of Iraq. It also needs to pay attention to Arab concerns over Washington's failure to contain Israel's increasing irrationality.

The get-together of Arab and American officials, businessmen and intellectuals in Detroit next week should serve as a launching pad for a more institutionalised Arab-American dialogue. It is an opportunity that should not be missed.