Arab role after Algeria’s Summit [Archives:2005/830/Opinion]

archive
April 4 2005

By Prof. Abdulaziz al-Tarb
For the Yemen Times

The 17th Arab Summit in Algeria produced a statement, which in my opinion, lays a strong foundation for a new period of progress. This summit ran in sharp contradiction to previous summits where leaders advocated either leaving everything as is, or simply trying to prevent further deterioration.

I believe that the Algerian Summit realized its expectations. It emphasized the key role of mutual work between Arabs and ways to improve the region gradually that have been missing from previous summits, where projects and plans were detached from reality. This is why most of them remained ink on paper. Continuous but gradual work, with a temporally defined schedule, will serve the Arab world well in the coming period.

The international participation at the Algerian Summit was exceptionally important. Many globally well-known personalities took part, such as the UN Secretary General and the Spanish Premier. The latter presented a considerable vision on dialogue between civilizations, their coexistence and even cooperation. This was to counterbalance submissions on civilization collision and conflict.

The Spanish Premier was quite right when he said to the Arab leaders that terrorism is the product of deviant thought and is no reflection on a civilization, culture or religion. This vision corresponds with that held by most countries.

During the summit, Arab leaders defined their stance on a number of regional issues. If other parties will be committed to it, the Summit's manifesto will ensure peaceful and comprehensive settlement of these issues.

Concerning the Palestinian Cause, the initiative highlighted that full normalization in Arab-Israeli relations is conditioned by Israel's withdrawal from the occupied territories, establishing an independent Palestinian state with al-Quds as its capital, determining a fair solution to the refugee issue according to UN Resolution 194, and rejecting all forms of Israeli settlements in the Palestinian state. The Summit stressed the international community's responsibility to support this initiative, the formation of a three-part committee to quickly promote the initiative internationally, and the need for a lobby group for the adoption of the initiative by the Security Council and UN General Assembly.

The Arab stance is based on an essential idea, that is, Arab commitments should be matched with Israeli commitments. It is unreasonable to put the burden on Arab parties while the other party is exempt. Mutual commitments will help reach a peaceful settlement from which a permanent solution can be found.

Concerning the Syrian-Lebanese relationship, there has been an international agreement that there is no contradiction between the Taif Treaty and Resolution No. 1559. Arab leaders were particularly concerned that a peaceful settlement will be reached without sanction or intimidation.

Regarding Iraq, those at the Summit called for the restoration of normal conditions and the rebuilding of the state apparatus. They also called for a schedule for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq.

Concerning reform and development in the Arab region, it was agreed that Arab countries have already started making reforms. It seems that the general tendency is that Arab countries will continue reforming themselves each as fast as its conditions and national vision allow.

I expect that the coming period will witness big reforms in the Arab World based on people's economic, political, and social aspirations and wariness of superpower intervention. Reform is a pressing need for Arabs. There was consensus on preserving the system and institutions of the Arab League, introducing genuine reforms and development by establishing an Arab Parliament, amending the voting system within the Arab League, and the need to consider establishing an Arab Justice Tribunal and Security Council.

This Arab Summit signals the end of the “deterioration prevention” policies and in favor of a new stage of positive, constructive and effective work. Until the 2006 Khartoum summit is held, we will wait to see if the Algeria Summit's resolutions are implemented to give hope to Arab citizens.
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