Jordan Times
Wednesday, April 7, 2004
Arab summit convening soon
crucial — Muasher
By Alia Shukri Hamzeh
AMMAN — The convening of the Arab summit as soon as possible is crucial to the
region's political and social reform plan and to the Middle East peace process,
Minister of Foreign Affairs Marwan Muasher has stressed.
Speaking at a meeting on Sunday with Al Rai and The Jordan Times editors,
reporters and columnists, Muasher said all Arab countries agree on the need to
hold the summit soon, regardless of recent differences over the venue.
Arab countries have been at odds over where to hold the summit that was
postponed by Tunisia for what it described as disagreements over proposed
wide-ranging political reforms in the Middle East and the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict.
Egypt has offered to host the summit, but Tunisia insists it reserves that
right.
According to diplomats and news reports, the summit is likely to be held in
Tunisia in mid-May, and Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa was quoted by
agencies on Tuesday as saying there was a tendency towards holding the Arab
summit in Tunisia next month.
Meanwhile, Muasher said the venue of the summit should not be an issue of
contention. What is important, he said, is the content and the timing of the
meeting.
He said Tunisia's sudden postponement annoyed some Arab countries, who either
did not want to go there in the first place or are now apprehensive of a repeat
performance.
He said Jordan was ready to convene wherever, adding that it was important to
ensure that the upcoming summit did neither prove nor draw only minimal
representation by Arab leaders.
Arab foreign ministers' preparatory sessions in Tunis were described as stormy,
as diplomats differed over several issues, including a reform plan for the
region.
Tunisia had insisted there were "deep differences" of opinion over "core issues
of Arab interest," including the aspired reforms, and the restructuring of the
league, prompting the postponement. Arab diplomats, however, insisted the
differences were not unusual and could have been ironed out.
"There were differences. But they were not worse than any other summit and would
not have led to its failure," Muasher said.
On the summit agenda, the Arab countries were expected to endorse political and
social reforms, introduce substantial changes to the league and its system of
operations, and inject life into the Arab peace initiative, launched in the 2002
Beirut summit.
Noting the importance of reaching a unified Arab stance over the worsening
Palestinian-Israeli issue — as a result of Israel's recent measures including
the building of a separation barrier and plans for its unilateral withdrawal
from Gaza — Muasher said not holding the summit provided Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon with an excuse to relinquish his responsibilities and commitments
to peace.
"All Arab countries agree on the need to go back to the Arab peace initiative,"
Muasher said, stressing on the importance of ensuring the establishment of an
independent Palestinian state, and a guarantee that any unilateral withdrawal by
Israel from the occupied territories is carried out in line with the
Quartet-backed roadmap and the Arab initiative.
He said Sharon's recent measures were viewed as a "move away from" both
blueprints for peace.
He reiterated that an independent state was not just a Palestinian requirement
but rather a Jordanian one, adding that not achieving that goal would allow
Israel to push for its scheme to turn Jordan into an alternative homeland for
Palestinians.
He said His Majesty King Abdullah's visit to Israel last month was part of
efforts to make it clear to Israel that the Kingdom would not accept a
unilateral withdrawal that did not fall under the roadmap or result in an
independent Palestinian state.
In reference to accusations made against Jordan and other countries for
suggesting to incorporate articles in the final communiquÈ condemning "suicide
attacks," Muasher reiterated the country's firm position against the killing of
all civilians. He said such attacks clearly harmed the Palestinian cause and
extinguish the idea of a Palestinian state. He said the accusations were part of
attempts to portray Jordan as opposed to the Palestinians' legitimate struggle
against Israeli occupation.
"Struggle against occupation should not be abridged to attacks against
civilians," the foreign minister said, adding that the proposed article
condemning "killing of civilians" was not a Jordanian request but rather an Arab
and Palestinian one.
Muasher brushed aside rumours the Arab summit was postponed because of US
pressure, saying there were no such indications.
He, however, said there was consensus over the need to hold the summit before
the G-8 meeting in June, during which the US would present its “Greater Middle
East initiative.”
The Arab reform blueprint, that was being finalised by FMs in Tunis, is regarded
as part of attempts to abort the US initiative. Arab countries had decried the
recently announced initiative for democratisation in the Middle East as bids to
further control the region. They also criticised the document as completely
neglecting the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Muasher said Jordan suggested to the US that Arab countries present the G-8 with
their own reform plan, adding that Arabs agree on the general principles for
democratic reforms, including public freedoms, women's rights, judicial reforms,
and educational reforms to incorporate human rights concepts.
"In Jordan we regard reforms as a necessity regardless of who calls for them,"
he said, adding that reforms have been a prerequisite for Arab states for years.
"Reforms should come from within the region, but even if they were called for
from outside, those who agree with the need for change, should not be considered
as "American agents," he added.
Muasher noted that the concept of political and social reforms for the region
was initiated 10 years ago in Barcelona by the European Union and not the US.
He said the EU started dialogue with countries of the region, especially north
African states, over ways to develop their political, social and economic
conditions, believing that such development ensures its security.
"The Sept. 11 attacks added a new American dimension to the reforms after the US
began to feel that the region produced elements that are regarded as a threat to
its national security," Muasher said.
He pointed out that both the US and the EU agree that the current situation in
the Middle East should not be allowed to continue because it breeds threats to
the international community's security.
The difference between both, however, was over the method to introduce such
reforms and not the principle.
On Iraq and the recent escalation in violence there, Muasher said the political
process in the neighbouring country indicates that the situation could lead to a
civil war. "And that had dangerous repercussions for the whole region, not just
Iraq."
He said Jordan had warned the US against dismantling the Iraqi army and civil
administration, which resulted in the current "huge security void."
Muasher said Jordan also warned against marginalising a certain group or faction
in the occupied country and called for assurances for Iraqis to exercise their
rights.
"If there is a feeling in Iraq that a certain group is controlling the reins and
banning others from political practice, there will be a civil war. This is what
we are trying to avoid and have been warning against."
He said Jordan believes that the withdrawal of occupying forces from Iraq
without prior build-up of the army and security capabilities was a clear
invitation to civil strife.