The Arab foreign ministers' meeting will conclude today with an emphasis on the need for regional stability, reports Dina Ezzat On the eve of the regular meeting of the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers that opened in Cairo yesterday Amr Moussa, Arab League secretary-general, was in no mood to mince his words. The region, he said, was staring straight in the face of a looming danger. Nor are concerns over regional stability restricted to the increasingly tense situation in the occupied territories. They now encompass Washington's determination to wage a military strike against Iraq and the possibility that southern Sudan might secede. "The list is very long," said one diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity. "There is also the situation on the Syrian- Israeli and Lebanese-Israeli borders. There is the situation in the Horn of Africa. There is the concern about potential Jordanian and Qatari involvement in any US strike against Iraq. What we see today is a situation in which Arab national security is being seriously challenged. And, unfortunately, Arabs may not have the wherewithal to meet the challenge, which would require adopting serious stances towards both Israel and the US". The resolutions expected at the end of the council's deliberations later today are likely to stress opposition to any US military strike against Iraq and to underline commitment to peace and development in Sudan and Somalia. Israel's continuing aggression against Palestinians will also be condemned. The council's rejection of any military strike against Iraq will be expressed with the same clarity of language adopted by the Arab summit in Beirut last March. "The Arab stance is very clear. The situation in 1990 [when Arabs agreed to a military option to liberate Kuwait] will not be repeated. It just won't," said Moussa, adding that "a chance has to be given for Iraq and the UN" to settle all disagreements, including the return of inspectors and the lifting of sanctions. It is a line supported in statements made by all participating foreign ministers. "A strike against Iraq could destabilise the Middle East, and particularly the Gulf area. We cannot support anything that will lead to instability," said Mohamed Abdel-Ghaffar, the Bahraini minister for foreign affairs. Any resolution adopted today in relation to Iraq is expected to call on Baghdad to resume cooperation with the UN arms inspectors. "By calling on Iraq to allow for the return of inspectors Arabs are offering Baghdad a face- saving solution -- letting inspectors back in response to an Arab request and not just under international pressure," said one Arab League source. Iraq will not be alone in receiving council support. The same resolution is likely to address the threats facing other Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, target of a serious hate campaign in the US. It is not clear, though, whether or not Egypt, also attacked in the US, will be included in the text. Sudan is likely to receive what one Arab diplomat calls "unprecedented attention and support from an Arab foreign ministers meeting". The resumption of hostilities between Khartoum and the Sudanese Popular Liberation Army, and fears of the separation of Sudan following the Machakos Protocol, has prompted Arab officials to draft a resolution that attempts to secure political and financial support for the Sudanese government. Any resolution is likely to "emphasise the unity of Sudan". "The Sudanese government is working to maintain the unity of Sudan. We expect our Arab brothers, who have been for long neutral, to now show support" said Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismail. The strongest language, though, will come in expressing support for the Palestinians. "The Arabs cannot be pushed around while Israel continues its aggression against Palestinians and its violations of international law," commented Moussa. An appeal to the international community, particularly the UN, is also expected to be made. "Israel is violating the Geneva conventions and nobody is doing anything about it," commented Nabil Shaath, Palestinian minister for international planning. The council, though, is unlikely to issue any serious resolution concerning a reconsideration of relations with Israel. "When Jordan is working with Israel on a huge project to link the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, when Egypt is showing sympathy to a Danish initiative for peace in the Middle East that is criticised by the Syrians, the Lebanese and even some Gulf states as too Israeli- oriented, and when Qatar's foreign minister states at every meeting that Arabs are helpless and must realise that they will eventually submit to US will, then who is going to reconsider relations with Israel?" commented one Arab diplomatic source. But one thing is certain: as Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hamoud, the current chair of the council, and Arab League Secretary- General Moussa go to the press conference at the conclusion of the two-day meetings later today, they will be stressing one point: Arabs are facing serious threats as Israel, with the support of some international powers, tries to impose new realities on the Middle East. And they are trying to deal with these challenges to the best of their abilities.
