Arab Summit Embraces Iraq, Snaps at U.S.

Arab Summit Embraces Iraq, Snaps at U.S.

NewsMax.com Wires
Friday, March 29, 2002

BEIRUT, Lebanon – The Arab summit Thursday broke the ice between Saudi Arabia and Iraq and eased tension between Baghdad and Kuwait for the first time since end of the Gulf War in 1991.

The moves come as the United States tries to mobilize an anti-terror campaign against Iraq to topple dictator Saddam Hussein.

In a surprise move, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah walked into the conference hall hand-in-hand with Izzat Ibrahim al Douri, deputy president of Iraqi Revolutionary Council. Abdullah and al Douri embraced as other Arab leaders applauded.

Summit spokesman Ghassan Salame hailed the move. He said it was the first time an Arab meeting reached "this level of ... understanding concerning the state [of relations] between Iraq and Kuwait."

Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri said his regime was ready to engage in direct negotiations with the Kuwaitis. "We welcome any contact," he said.

"We are brothers and neighbors, and we can solve any problem without foreign intervention," Sabri told reporters. "We can achieve this."

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa appeared hopeful over the future of Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations.

He referred to the "dialogue" between Iraq, Abdullah and Kuwaiti officials during the two-day Beirut summit.

Salivating Over Kuwait

"Such a calm climate would enable us to make future steps," said Moussa, who has been working to restore normal ties between Iraq and Kuwait. "I am hopeful and I think one of the successes achieved during the Beirut meeting was this special issue between Iraq and Kuwait."

Moussa said, however, much remained to be done to bring the countries closer.

In a statement released at the end of the Beirut summit, the Arab leaders welcomed Iraq's "assurances for the respect of Kuwait's independence, sovereignty and security as well as the guarantee of the safety and unity of its territories in such a way as to avoid ... what happened in 1990."

In that year, Iraq invaded Kuwait and withdrew only after U.S. and allied forces attacked it and liberated Kuwait.

An Iraqi source confirmed to United Press International, however, that his country did not make any written pledge not to invade Kuwait again. The Arab leaders also emphasized respect for Iraq's sovereignty, security and unity and requested Baghdad cooperate toward a quick solution regarding the issue of Kuwaiti prisoners.

Gullible Kuwaiti

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Ahmed al Sabah said his country was fully satisfied with the "agreement" achieved with Iraq at the summit. While they welcomed the resumed dialogue between Iraq and the United Nations, the Arab leaders called for lifting the U.N. sanctions on Iraq and ending the ordeal of the Iraqi people.

They strongly rejected any potential U.S. strike against Iraq and attempts to threaten the safety of any Arab country as "a threat to the national security of all the Arab countries."

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