Jordan Times
Tuesday, January 6, 2004
King urges Arab League reforms
AMMAN (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah and Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa discussed on Monday proposals to amend the body's charter.King Abdullah told Musa that enhancing Arab solidarity and activating the league's role on joint Arab action require development and structural reforms to its charter.
Musa said a league team has come up with a draft reform plan, copies of which have been sent to Arab countries, adding that the proposal will be discussed during the upcoming summit in Tunis.
The King, meanwhile, praised the league's decision to send a delegation to Iraq to examine the situation of its people and listen to points of view of parties and groups there on future plans.
Musa commended Jordan's efforts to support Iraq, highlighting the role of the national field hospital in Fallujah, near Baghdad.
The talks, attended by Royal Court Minister Samir Rifai and Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher, also included the latest developments in the occupied territories amid Israel's escalating aggression against the Palestinian people.
Musa also met Prime Minister Faisal Fayez for talks on regional issue and Arab League reforms.
After the meeting, Musa told the press that league's proposed reforms are related to the overall Arab situation, including Palestinian and Iraqi issues as well as the socio-economic situation in the region.
"But reforming the Arab League does not mean reforming the Arab world," he said, adding that a collective Arab political will is a must for improving the body's work.
He warned that any attempt to marginalise the league could have negative repercussions on the Arab world at large.
On Iraq, he said neither the league nor neighbours of the war-torn country intend to interfere in the ongoing political process there.
“Our role there is confined to support the Iraqi people and help them preserve their unity and interests,” he said.