More than just neighbours
In an attempt to formulate a common Arab vision on how best to deal with the two most volatile situations in the region, Cairo continued diplomatic contacts with Arab leaders, reports Nevine Khalil
President Hosni Mubarak made brief trips to Syria and Libya over the past week, to exchange notes on the prospects for ameliorating the situations in Iraq and the Palestinian territories. On Monday, Mubarak visited Damascus for talks with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, primarily on coordinating Arab action. Mubarak's trip followed a conference on the repercussions of the Iraq War in the Syrian capital. The two presidents were briefed by their foreign ministers about the multilateral conference, which brought together Iraq's immediate neighbours and Egypt to discuss the regional effects of, and solutions to, Iraq's instability.
The conference, which took place Saturday and Sunday, included delegations from Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Kuwait and Jordan, but was boycotted by Iraq, who complained it did not receive a formal invitation until the last day of the conference. The attendees expressed their support for Iraq and empathy for the suffering of its people, as well as a commitment to non- interference in Iraq's internal affairs. They also stressed the need for an active UN role in supervising the drafting of a new constitution, holding elections and scheduling the departure of occupying forces.
Mubarak and Al-Assad spent some time debating the steps needed to bring to power in Baghdad a sovereign and unified authority which is representative of the people's will. Both leaders agreed that the US occupation of Iraq should end as soon as possible, and that the UN should have a bigger role to play in post-war Iraq.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said on Monday that all of Iraq's neighbours as well as Egypt "are working to restore Iraq's sovereignty to its people as soon as possible". This would be based on the departure of occupying powers and improving conditions for the Iraqis, Maher noted. "It's the responsibility of the Arab and world community, as well as the Iraqis themselves," Maher told the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Nabaa. He also stressed that, "Egypt looks upon all Iraqis equally, and does not differentiate between the various factions." He stated that, "regional stability, security and peace require a stable and united Iraq. In fact, Iraq's unity is the most important matter from Egypt's perspective".
On the Palestinian dilemma, Mubarak and Al- Assad united to condemn Israeli brutality and the ongoing wave of assassinations and invasions in the occupied territories. One month ago, Syria also came into Israel's sights when bombers struck a camp outside Damascus in the first attack against Syria in nearly three decades.
Shortly afterwards, Damascus also came under fire from Washington, when the US House of Representatives passed the Syria Accountability Act, raising the possibility of sanctions against Syria. Mubarak took the opportunity of talking with Al-Assad to "restate Egypt's firm position of supporting Syria on principle," Minister of Information Safwat El-Sherif told reporters after the meeting. "Egypt is against all provocations which threaten the stability and security of the region and the world," he added.
Mubarak and Al-Assad also reviewed Egypt's efforts to maintain unity in Palestinian ranks and negotiations with the armed Palestinian factions. Cairo's efforts were again on the agenda when Mubarak met with Libya's Muammar Gaddafi on 29 October. In an unannounced trip, Mubarak travelled to Tripoli to discuss the deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories with his Libyan counterpart as well as a means of safeguarding Iraqi territorial integrity and unity. They also discussed the need for joint efforts to arrive at a common economic and political Arab position capable of shaping, not simply responding to, world events.
Reforming the Arab League is a subject which Egypt and Libya take very seriously. Both have presented proposals for overhauling the Arab League. Mubarak had spoken extensively about Egypt's reform plan to Cairo Radio on the same day he met with Gaddafi. He noted that Cairo's initiative is "currently being studied by league members ahead of its discussion at the ministerial and leadership levels".
In his radio interview, Mubarak expressed his opinion that security conditions in Iraq will worsen before they improve. He described the situation in post-war Iraq as "very difficult, and I expect the violence will increase in the coming phase". Speaking about the un-implemented roadmap initiative, Mubarak defended the Palestinian Authority, saying "they cannot be blamed for everything". He called on Israel to cooperate with peace brokers in order to achieve a just and comprehensive settlement, saying, "It takes two to tango."
At the end of last week, Maher was encouraged by Israeli Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon's less radical line towards the Palestinians, describing it as "positive". According to sources close to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Ya'alon lambasted the government over its uncompromising policies towards former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. Commenting on Israel's decision to add new Jewish settlements in the West Bank and continue building the security wall, Maher told reporters on 30 October that, " [Ya'alon] is himself opposed to Israeli policy." He added that Sharon's hardline stance on the peace process "is producing opposition inside Israel and within the circles of power".
US Ambassador to Egypt David Welch said that once the prerequisites for the roadmap are met, his country is ready to forge ahead with the initiative. "When security is established, the American partners are going to be there to make this work," he told reporters after talks with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa on 30 October. "They have the roadmap on the table and it's available," Welch said of the peace plan, which has so far not restored calm in the Palestinian territories nor effected progress towards the creation of a Palestinian state by 2005.
Al-Ahram Weekly Online : 6 - 12 November 2003 (Issue No. 663)
Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/663/eg2.htm