Last week's Egyptian-Saudi summit brought the Arabs closer to a common position on the problems facing the region, writes Ibrahim Nafie Crucial bilateral and regional issues were on the table at last Monday's summit held in Riyadh between President Hosni Mubarak and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The two leaders were working towards a common understanding of a raft of problems before taking them up with other Arab leaders. Egypt and Saudi Arabia regularly coordinate policies on major Arab issues. Syria used to take part in such summits and the three-way consultation was often helpful. There are many reasons why it had become essential to hold an Egyptian-Saudi summit. The Arabs today face a host of challenges, with some problems threatening to get out of hand. The situation has not been helped by the actions of a handful of Arab officials who have made statements that have compounded the difficulties. Consultation had become essential. In Iraq the security situation continues to deteriorate. Violence has escalated in a manner that threatens civilians in an unprecedented way. The actions of Abu Musaab Al-Zarqawi's group, and of others, clearly threaten the future of Iraq as an entity in which various ethnic groups and sects co- exist. The government's control over Iraqi soil is slipping and its relations with its neighbours are becoming increasingly shaky. The reckless policies pursued by some Iraqi parties could bring Iraq under Iranian influence and fuel sectarian sentiment. A common Arab policy towards Iraq could help bring some order to the country. Recently Iraq's interior minister voiced unhelpful criticisms of the Saudis. The Iraqi foreign minister later apologised, which helped defuse the situation, but this is clearly the sort of behaviour we need to avoid. Arab countries must reach a clear vision of how to deal with Iraq. To do nothing is no longer an option, no matter what the short- term advantages of inaction appear to be. The lack of a clear Arab policy on Iraq, one that is binding on all Arab League member states and forcefully addresses Iraq's problem, has become untenable. Syria and Lebanon are also in need of urgent attention. The Arabs must adopt a common and clear stand on the situation in Lebanon -- especially at a time when Syrian-US affairs are taking a turn for the worst. The US will soon attempt to place Syria under unbearable pressure. Much will depend on the findings of the international team of investigators sent by the UN to examine the assassination of the Lebanese prime minister Rafik Al-Hariri. The report may tip the region down a slippery slope, and both Egypt and Saudi Arabia, in coordination with the rest of the Arab world, need to do something to prevent a precipitous descent. The situation in the Palestinian territories is also crying out for a common Arab policy. Following the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Palestinian factions organised parades, with some even challenged the authorities. Worse still, some Arab countries are edging closer to normalising ties with Israel in clear violation of the Saudi initiative, proposed by King Abdullah when he was heir apparent, and endorsed by the Beirut summit in 2002. Problems in Saudi-Libyan relations also need to be ironed out before moving on to weightier regional matters. I believe that the Saudi-Egyptian summit will prove helpful for once Egypt and Saudi Arabia have discussed matters and formulated a shared vision it is much easier to move towards a common Arab stand.
