Foreign ministers from Arab League nations convened Saturday, March 25, 2006 in Friends Hall, Khartoum, Sudan to lay the groundwork for Tuesday's two- day summit of Arab leaders.  This year's meeting takes place against the backdrop of crises in the region that are challenging Arab leaders and the international community.  The prospects for solutions to the problems facing the Arab world may also be hindered by the absence of key leaders.  Sudanese presidential adviser Mustafa Osman Ismail told reporters that 17 Arab leaders were planning to participate in the two day summit.  The leaders of Oman, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Saudi Arabia were expected to miss the event.  These aspects of the annual meeting of Arab leaders and more specific discussion of the challenges facing the Arab world are the subject of the press reporting highlighted in this SUSRIS NID.

OVERVIEW

Arab League summit faces a sea of troubles
By Roula Khalaf

"Arab leaders who gather for yearly summits have enough trouble dealing with the Middle East�s running disputes. But this week�s Arab League meeting in Khartoum takes place amid a build-up of crises that have left the region even more turbulent than usual, and the search for a meaningful consensus among leaders more elusive.."  < more >

Time for another Arab summit
By Sana Abdallah

"Next week's annual Arab summit will probably be no different than previous ones in terms of neglecting to take unified political decisions for action on the increasingly sizzling issues in the region. With major leaders not attending the high-level gathering in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, on March 28-29, there is little chance, if any, the Arab regimes will adopt significant decisions on dealing with the key questions: Iraq, the Palestinian issue and the Lebanese, Lebanese-Syrian crisis, to name a few. Reports from Khartoum said Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz will not attend the summit, as well as less major players, such as Oman's Sultan Qaboos and Tunisia's Zain al-Abedeen bin Ali. With the possible absence of the leaders of the two most influential Arab countries - Egypt and Saudi Arabia - little is expected to be achieved as Iraq stands on the verge of civil war, the Palestinians face a major economic and political crisis when the Hamas government takes over and Lebanon is divided over its future as it squabbles over Syrian influence.  
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Low Turnout Expected at Arab Summit

"Arab diplomats are expecting a low turnout of top leaders in the upcoming annual Arab League summit in Khartoum, slated to take place next Monday and Tuesday, according to the London-based Al-Quds Al-�Arabi.  The diplomats say a low-level conference might not be able to adequately tackle the important issues on the agenda.  An Arab diplomat in London said Saudi King �Abdallah Bin �Abd Al-�Aziz will not be taking part in the conference in order to avoid meeting Libyan President Mu�ammar Al-Qadhafi. The leaders are still trying to repair tense relations between their countries following a diplomatic row.  The diplomat said Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will also not be attending the summit, and will send Prime Minister Ahmad Nazif in his place, possibly because Mubarak is concerned about lax security arrangements in Sudan.  Algerian government sources have said Algerian President �Abd Al-�Aziz Bouteflika will not attend the Arab League summit, citing the president�s health situation after he was recently hospitalized with a stomach ulcer.  Diplomats are not ruling out the possibility that a large absence from the summit is due to concerns that the United States has recently been outspoken against Sudan over the continuing violence in Darfur.  < more > 

United States Urges Arab Nations To Support Iraq
Assistant Secretary of State Welch looks to Arab Summit

"The upcoming Arab Summit should support the new Iraqi government, stand behind the three demands of the international community on the new Palestinian government, and back the transition to a U.N. peacekeeping force in Darfur, United States has said in a series of meetings with Arab countries.  According to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs C. David Welch, the United States would like to see the 22 Arab nations address key issues such as Iraq, Palestine, and Darfur in 'a positive, forward-looking way' at the Arab Summit scheduled to meet in Khartoum, Sudan, March 28 and 29.."  < more >

Khartoum Summit to discuss joint Arab action issues

"Arab League's Secretary General, Amr Mussa affirmed that the Arab Summit to be convened in Khartoum at the end of this month will discuss joint Arab action including the latest political, economic and social developments in Palestine, Iraq, Sudan and the Middle East, the nuclear issue and dialogue of civilizations.  In an interview with the Egyptian daily newspaper, Mussa said that the summit will have 20 issues on the agenda. Approving the draft of an Arab Security and Peace Council and Arab Justice Court are among the most important issues to be tackled in the summit, Mussa said. Mussa also called for convening more than one summit annually, indicating that there will be an intensive participation of Arab leaders in light of the deteriorating situation in the region. He said that the responsibility of the Arab leaders and presidents requires their personal participation to discuss these issues. Mussa disclosed that if he was re - elected he plans to ask a number of Arab politicians, economists, intellectuals, and men of letters to help him set up a framework for joint Arab action in the incoming five years.."  < more > 

IRAQ

Arab countries to open embassies in Baghdad: Iraqi FM

"Arab foreign ministers agreed on a draft resolution on opening embassies in Baghdad which will be submitted to the Arab summit,  Zebari said.  'We have demanded immediate implementation of the resolution,' Zebari told a press conference on the margin of the Arab foreign ministers meeting to prepare for the Arab League summit.."  < more > 

Iraq seeks Arab support in upcoming Khartoum summit

"Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari urged here Saturday that his country is seeking support from Arab leaders in the upcoming summit meeting to be held in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on March 28-29.  'We want a clear message of support from the Arab leaders for Iraq..'"  < more >

Arab states voice concern over Iran - US talks on Iraq

"Fears of a growing Iranian role in Iraq seems to loom over the annual summit of Arab leaders as the Arab League chief warned of marginalizing the Arab role in the occupied country.  'I don't think any dialogue taking place behind the Iraqis' and Arabs' backs can be fruitful,' Mussa said, hinting to the expected direct talks between Iran and the United States over Iraq.."  < more >

HAMAS

Hamas says being kept away from Arab summit
By Haitham Haddadin

"Hamas leader-in-exile Khaled Meshaal said on Sunday the Palestinian militant group was intentionally being excluded from an Arab summit in Sudan and urged Arab leaders to work with the new government Hamas forms.."  < more > 

Hamas says will stay away from Arab summit in Sudan

"Hamas said on Thursday its presentation of a new Palestinian government for parliamentary approval next week would force the group to miss a two-day Arab summit due to begin on Tuesday.."  < more > 

Hamas disappointed at not attending Arab summit

The Palestinian Hamas movement said on Saturday that it was disappointed that it would not attend this week�s Arab summit here in the Sudanese capital where it had hoped to explain its position to the Arab people.  'We had hoped to attend the summit to be able to support our people in light of the threats against them and our upcoming governement,' Moushir Al Masri, Hamas spokesman in the Gaza Strip.."  < more >  

DARFUR

Sudan believes Arab summit to support Khartoum stance on Darfur 

"Sudanese Minister of Information and Communication Al-Zahawi Ibrahim Malik expressed his belief here Saturday that the upcoming Arab summit will take a strong position supporting Sudan on the Darfur issue.. ..'The summit will adopt a very strong resolution supporting Sudan on the Darfur issue, especially its position of refusing foreign intervention as well as its efforts to achieve a fast and peaceful settlement for the crisis..'"  < more >

LEBANON

Salloukh to meet with Moallem for second time before summit

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