This SUSRIS
Special Report provides an overview of the 19th Summit of the
Arab League that opened today in Riyadh. An extensive
compilation of news report links are provided as well.
SUSRIS will provide additional special reports and IOI articles
during and after this important event.
World�s Eyes
on Arab Summit
Raid Qusti, Arab News
RIYADH, 28 March 2007 � Much of the world is looking at the
Saudi capital as heads of state, kings, and presidents of Arab
countries meet today at the 19th Arab summit hosted by Saudi
Arabia.
The leaders are expected to reach agreement by consensus on many
of the region�s issues � Iraq, Lebanon, the Darfur problem in
Sudan and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The leaders are also
expected to re-launch the Arab peace
initiative, according to
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal.
In preparatory talks on Monday, Arab foreign ministers agreed to
revive the plan. It offers Israel normalization of relations if
Tel Aviv withdraws from all lands it occupied in 1967, permits
the creation of a Palestinian state and allows the return of
Palestinian refugees. Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa
said the Arab peace proposal would be registered at the United
Nations as an international proposal and a basis for peace in
the Middle East.
In addition, the leaders are expected to discuss ways to develop
education in the Arab world, the establishment of a unified Arab
customs union, the revival of inter-Arab commerce and nuclear
energy for nonmilitary uses.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah invited United
Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to attend the summit as a
special guest. The secretary-general will attend the opening and
closing sessions.
Also attending as special invited guests are Pakistani President
Pervez Musharraf, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana. The Kingdom
has also invited the representatives of several Asian, South
American, and European countries.
King Abdullah yesterday received a number of Arab heads of state
as they arrived in the capital.
They included Syrian President Bashar Assad with whom the King
later held a closed-door meeting. This was their first meeting
after last summer�s Lebanon war.
Over the past 61 years, 18 Arab summits have been held. The
Palestinian problem along with the right of the Palestinian
people to a state has always been the center of discussion. The
first Arab summit was in Egypt in 1946 at the request of the
late King Farouk. Seven Arab states, including Saudi Arabia,
which formed the Arab League at that time, participated in the
meeting.
In 1967 after Israel occupied the West Bank, Sinai and the Golan
Heights, Arab leaders called for an urgent meeting in Khartoum.
They strongly protested the Jewish state�s occupation of Arab
lands and refused to negotiate with Israel unless it withdrew
completely from the occupied territories.
Saudi Arabia continues to lobby the Arab and Islamic cause both
in the region and in the world beyond. The Kingdom was
successful in bringing Palestinians to Makkah, paving the way
for a unified Palestinian government.
Source: Arab News
-
March 24 - Saudi Arabia assumes presidency of the Arab League
replacing Sudan which chaired the 18th session.
-
March 24 - Arab League permanent representatives meeting on
Summit agenda.
-
March 25 - Finance and economy ministers meeting - final
recommendations for economic issues to be discussed at Arab
League summit.
-
March 26 - Foreign ministers pre-Summit meeting.
-
March 28-29 - King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz inaugurates the 19th
Arab Summit attended by Arab leaders and a number of
foreign dignitaries, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The summit will also be attended by the UN General Assembly
President Shaikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa and Pakistan President
General Pervez Musharraf.
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