Al-Mithaq [Archives:2004/741/Press Review]

17 May 2004
Main headlines
– Arab finance ministers discuss regional developments and their economic and financial impact
– Political parties representatives get informed on report of the first year of the poverty alleviation report
– Minister of waters and environment: We have new mechanism for tackling problems of implementing water projects in rural areas
– Elections of physicians union illegitimate for violating unanimity and non-representation of branches
– Shoura Council discusses report of Arab Development for 2003.
– Human Rights Minister says Islam exposed to deformation campaign by some world extremists despite of its agreement with human rights

The political editor of the newspaper says in an article it not probable the occurring of new surprises regarding meeting of the Arab summit but the only surprise can be the nature of decisions to be taken in it as its agenda contains very important topics concerning the Arab nation and the Arab order. The main important documents are those of the “pledge”, “reformation of the Arab situation” and draft of amending the Arab League charter that proposes the establishment of new mechanisms and establishments thought to effect a certain amount of positive change in the Arab joint action. There are, of course, the issue f the Arab Israeli conflict and the complicated situation in Iraq.
The political reform process in the Arab countries is still a thorny issue and there are many various visions about it. Despite that the Arab foreign ministers have reached a conciliatory form in this regard but the reform projects proposed by America and other foreign countries would have to take a certain stand about them. The developments regarding the conflict with Israel are many, mainly the Israeli wall, Sharon's allegations of unilateral withdrawal and weakness of movements and acts regarding implementation of the roadmap. The Iraqi dossier is also on agenda of the summit but to what level can the summit decisions reach concerning an Arab role for stopping deterioration there and ending the occupation and helping the Iraqis for forming a constitutional government expressing their will?
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