LOC13:28
10:28 GMT
CAIRO, Jan 16 (KUNA) -- Israel's settlement policy, the implications on
peaceful settlement and the negotiations between the Israelis and the
Palestinians based on the Annapolis peace conference topped the agenda of a
closed session for the Arab Foreign Ministers on Sunday.
Up tp 17 Arab Foreign Ministers together with representatives of five Arab
countries are taking part in an extraordinary ministerial meeting that kicked
off today at the Arab League in Cairo.
The closed meeting was devoted to the settlement issue and how the Arabs
would respond to that obstacle that constitutes a menace to a peaceful
settlement in the region.
The forthcoming Middle East tour by the US President George W Bush featured
high on the meeting agenda, an informed source that attended told KUNA.
During the meeting, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa confirmed that
settlement "is the core of the problem for realizing a peaceful settlement on
the Palestinian track." Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu-Bakr al-Qurbi stressed
that Israel "has offered nothing since Annapolis."
The Head of the Palestinian delegation submitted to the meeting a detailed
report on the conditions in the Palestinian Territories, focusing on the
obstacles to the negotiations, against Israel's settlement policy.
Egypt proposed to the meeting that the Arab Foreign Ministers send two
messages, one to President Bush, sponsor of the peace process, and another to
the international community to halt settlement as well as sticking to the
principle of establishing a Palestinian state, according to the source.
Kuwait's delegation to the meeting is led by Deputy Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.
Today's meeting follows intensive consultations between the Arab countries
and the Arab League Secretary General as Israel has started a deliberate and
organized sabotage of the peace process through expanding settlements,
assistant Secretary General for Palestine Affairs, Mohammad Subeeh told KUNA.
Prior to the meeting Subeeh added that "What we see in Jerusalem is
unacceptable and runs against all the preparations that preceded the
(US-sponsored) Annapolis peace conference and all the vows and the
reassurances the Arab have received on settlements."
According to Subeeh, Israel speaks of Jerusalem as "Israeli lands" and not
"Arab lands" which is more dangerous that settlement and is "rejected in form
and content."
Today's meeting will deliver a clear message to President Bush during his
tour in the region to remind the US that "It was the sponsor of Annapolis,
and is responsible for results."
The Arab League's ministerial meeting, chaired by Algeria's Foreign
Minister Murad Madlisi.
Meanwhile, Foreign Ministers of the Arab states members of the
Euro-Mediterranean Partnership held a meeting prior to the Arab League's
meeting, that was chaired by Egypt, the Arab coordinator.(end)
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KUNA 061328 Jan 08NNNN