Arabs to Support International Efforts to Disarm Iraq Peacefully

16/02/2003| IslamWeb

HIGHLIGHTS: || Two EU Officials Attend Ministerial Session in Sharm al-Sheikh|| EU Holds Summit on Monday to Adopt Unified Position on Iraq|| Ministerial Session at Sharm al-Sheikh to Prepare for Emergency Arab Summit, Feb. 27, 2003|| Emir of Qatar, current OIC chairman, to Attend Emergency Arab Summit at Sharm al-Sheikh||STORY Arab foreign ministers and two top European officials held talks on boosting international efforts to disarm Iraq peacefully, as Lebanon called on Arab states to refrain from assisting the United States in waging war on Iraq.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud, whose country currently chairs the Arab League, opened the meeting here urging Arab countries not to cooperate with US President George W. Bush's plans to strike Iraq over its alleged hiding of weapons of mass destruction.

"We emphasize the refusal of Arab states to provide any kind of assistance to a military action against Iraq," Hammoud told his 19 fellow foreign ministers and representatives from Oman and Mauritania, although, in fact, many Arab states would be providing bases or logistical support to a US-led war.

Hammoud spoke of the need for "a peaceful solution" to the Iraq crisis and hailed France, Germany and Russia for fending off US efforts to scrap the UN arms inspections charged with uncovering Baghdad's suspected arsenal.

"If a war is launched unilaterally, it would violate UN resolutions and spell the end of the world order that kept peace and stability since World War Two," Hammoud said.

He added Iraq "has shown clear cooperation till now" with UN weapons inspectors.

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, whose country is the current European Union president, and European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten, joined the talks, becoming the first-ever non-Arab diplomats present at an Arab League foreign ministers' meeting.

"It reflects the keenness of Arabs to consult with the EU in supporting international efforts to bring about a peaceful settlement to the Iraq crisis and avoid war," an Arab League official told AFP.

Papandreou told reporters he spoke one-on-one with his Iraqi counterpart Naji Sabri, advising Baghdad to comply with UN disarmament terms in order to avoid a US-led war.

"The message is very clear, there are specific questions pointed out by (chief UN inspectors Hans) Blix and (Mohamed) ElBaradei that must be answered as soon as possible, in a clear and credible way," Papandreou said.

If Iraq does so, "then we will be moving on the road of peace," he added, warning Baghdad of "dire consequences" if it doesn't.

The EU is to hold a summit Monday in Brussels to trying to forge a common line between Britain -- Washington's staunchest ally in the crisis -- at one end of the EU spectrum and France and Germany at the other.

US Middle East envoy William Burns was expected to visit Cairo Sunday but his trip was postponed, according to the US embassy, which did not give any reason.

For his part, Sabri said: "We hope the Arab meetings will deter those who want to harm Arab rights and dignity."

The gathering of foreign ministers will prepare for an emergency Arab summit on Iraq to be held February 27 at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, according to the state-run Cairo daily Al-Ahram.

The final date is to be announced after the meeting.

Outside the meeting at the Arab League headquarters, several dozen Islamic activists shouting slogans against US-led war threats against Iraq.

"You, the ministers, tell us what has become of Arab unity, give us weapons," they chanted.

Arab leaders have expressed fear that a US-led war on Iraq could destabilize the whole Middle East. Besides the emergency summit, they will also hold an annual meeting in March, but its venue has been switched from Bahrain to Egypt.

Qatar's Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani confirmed Sunday in a telephone call to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that he will attend the emergency summit to be held upon the invitation of the Egyptian leader, the official MENA news agency said.

Meanwhile, Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa struck a hard tone ahead of Sunday's meeting.

"Arab states have agreed that they will not accept, cooperate with, deal with, rally to or facilitate a strike on Iraq," Mussa said before the formal session convened.

Mussa added that "not one single Arab state has voiced reservations" on these issues, even Gulf states like Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain which host the US-led military buildup in preparation for any war on Iraq.

His words contrasted with those of Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah who said Saturday that "the miracle should come from within Iraq, either through the departure of (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein or through something else."

PHOTO CAPTION

Arab leaders meet in C