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July 21, 2006 |
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PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL AT THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE ARAB LEAGUE'S COUNCIL: MY GOVERNMENT VIEWS THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL TO OPEN A NEW PAGE IN OUR JOINT ACTION IN A NEW STYLE WITH A NEW SPIRIT. THE SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER: WE CANNOT CONTINUE BY REPEATING THE SAME MISTAKE OF BURDENING OUR PATIENT PEOPLE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF MISTAKES. THE EXTRAORDINARY ARAB MEETING OUTLINES WAYS OF DEALING WITH THE EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN PALESTINE AND LEBANON. Egypt's President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak received Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister and head of the delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participating in the extraordinary meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers. The meeting was attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Ghait; Ambassador Ahmed Qattan, Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the Arab League; and Ambassador Khalid Al-Jandan, Director of Arab Department at the Saudi Foreign Ministry. Egyptian sources said the Foreign Minister informed the Egyptian President about the Saudi position towards the operations of Hezbollah and Hamas and added that both Saudi and Egyptian views concerning these operations and their impact on the Middle East are similar. President Mubarak from his side conveyed a message to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques including the results of the Egyptian Jordanian summit and the results of his talks with MP Saad Al-Hariri in Alexandria. The Foreign Minister and his Egyptian counterpart agreed to continue their contacts with all different parties and their efforts to ease the tension and stop the war. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal arrived in Cairo to lead the Saudi delegation to the emergency meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers. He was received at Cairo International Airport by Saudi Permanent Delegate to Arab League Ambassador Ahmad Qattan and Head of Protocol of the Arab League Mohammad bin Ali Nasr. Foreign Ministers of 18 Arab countries held an emergency summit in Cairo over Israel's expanding assault on Lebanon, the worst Israeli attack on its neighbour in 24 years. Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh presented his fellow Arab League members with a draft resolution condemning Israel's military offensive and supporting Lebanon's «right to resist occupation by all legitimate means.» The draft, a copy of which obtained by the Associated Press, also said the Arab League demanded the release of Lebanese captives and detainees in Israeli prisons, and supported Lebanon's right to «liberate them by all legitimate means.» Salloukh told reporters that he was «expecting Arab support from this malicious Israeli aggression.» «We call for mobilization to remove the Israeli aggression from Lebanon, which is considered a sinful and barbaric attack that breaches the international conventions,» he told reporters upon arriving in Cairo. Salloukh also repeated his government's call for U.N. Security Council intervention. Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa issued a statement calling on Israel to halt its military Operations in Lebanon, and asking the U.N. Security Council to intervene. He met with U.N. officials in Cairo, including U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's special envoy, Terje Roed-Larsen. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister and head of the delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the emergency meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers delivered a speech at a closed-door meeting. Prince Saud criticized some who have taken impromptu and emotional decisions without thinking of consequences that led to disastrous results over half a century, adding that this behaviour has led to a tragedy after a tragedy and the loss and occupation of Arab territories.. Prince Saud made the remarks in Cairo at the emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers, reported the Saudi Press Agency. The prince stressed that the very practice of hasty decision-making without proper understanding is the root cause of problems that Arabs are presently afflicted with, including loss of Arab land and the brutal Israeli occupation. The prince also pointed out that an objective analysis of the Arab situation over the past five decades shows that "impromptu and emotionally charged decisions without a deep understanding of the consequences" have led to "tragedy after tragedy including loss of land, occupation and civil wars." Prince Saud said, "Unless we agree that the time has come to get out of this ominous and vicious circle of making decisions that are taken under the shadow of crisis which only helps create fresh crises and aggravation, nothing will be achieved. The time has come to speak about matters openly even if they are painful." Prince Saud pointed out that it is unacceptable that one Arab country in the Arab League takes a unilateral decision and it is completely rejected in part and parcel that undisciplined and irresponsible elements in a country take decisions which do not involve that country alone but lead other countries to miscalculated adventures. The prince said, "A large part of our efforts in the past has been spent in holding emergency meetings without making necessary preparations to face the challenges...decisions made during crises carry the stamp of hurry and emotion which mostly result in aggravating the crisis instead of providing a solution to it." The prince also said that the Arab League was not a club to exchange empty clichés but a body to make military, political and economic treaties, adding that the league condemned the practice of a single party enforcing dictatorial decisions and not allowing other members to express their opinions. "If the unilateral decision by a single country is unacceptable then what about an undisciplined and irresponsible single element inside a country taking decisions which not only involves that country alone but pushes the remaining countries as well into a blind adventure? It is totally unacceptable and this matter should be unambiguously clear to all," he said. He noted that the Israeli government has been continuing in hateful occupation practices such as premeditated and repeated destruction of infrastructures, violation of human and national rights, targeting the innocent through assassination and apprehension, and indifference to all international conventions and human norms. Prince Saud said that the world community shoulders the responsibility for overlooking Israel's transgression of hostile practices and aggressions. He called on Arab foreign ministers for serious deliberations to set an effective methodology for providing an Arab action with means of success and making it part of a solution instead of being part of a problem. The Prince called for a quick movement to put an end to Israeli aggression on Lebanon and Palestine, for the prevalence of dialogue, and for halt of violence. He continued, "My government views that it is essential to open a new page in our joint action in a new style with a new spirit as we cannot continue by repeating the same mistake of burdening our patient people with the consequences of mistakes." He exhorted members to reach a wise decision instead of adding a new problem to the current crisis. "We need to make rapid moves to put an end to the Israeli aggression in Lebanon and Palestine and make a call for the language of dialogue to prevail and an end to the violence," he said. The minister also stressed the need to offer support to the Lebanese government in its efforts to protect the interests of Lebanon and also to the Palestinian Authority in its efforts to bring the situation under control and to bring unity among its people. The emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers concluded in Cairo. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the foreign minister headed the delegation of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the meeting. In a press statement following the meeting, Prince Saud pointed out that the meeting has reached two documents on the Palestinian cause and Lebanon. Prince Saud added that the meeting condemned Israel's practices of killing, displacing people and destruction in the region. Arab countries are determined to coordinate among themselves to avoid taking measures that affect the Arab national security because they are not studied or unilaterally taken without coordination among Arab countries, Prince Saud said. The kingdom emphasized the necessity that measures should be unanimously taken to preserve the national security and that no measures should be unilaterally taken that harm the Arab situation, he noted. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the foreign minister headed the delegation of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the meeting. In a statement issued following the meeting, the Arab ministerial council of foreign ministers condemned Israel's aggression on Lebanon which contravenes all international resolutions, laws and norms. The Council called on un security council to take a prompt resolution to comprehensively cease fire and lift Israeli siege of Lebanon. The council also condemned Israeli aggressions on the Palestinian territories which are considered war crimes and crimes against humanity. It greatly regretted a veto used by the United States of America to protect Israeli aggression and abort the UN Security Council's responsibilities of maintaining security and peace in the Palestinian territories. Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh warned that the Israeli aggression against Lebanon targeted the Arab national security and all Arab countries. In a speech during the Arab foreign ministers urgent meeting in the Arab League, Salloukh stressed on the importance of activating the official Arab diplomacy more seriously to keep up with developments. He touched on the deterioration of the peace process due to the absence of an honest sponsor, noting that Israel is forcing its own plan without any consideration for other sides. He added that the current situation resulted from definitions and terms created in the international community that are not in the interest of Arabs, such as considering resistance as terrorism. He considered the self-defense term given to Israel as a green light for Israel to destroy and kill without any limits. Salloukh also expressed appreciation for the Arab foreign ministers' solidarity and concern for Lebanon, expressing hope for a successful meeting as part of the Arab joint work. The Arab League Foreign Ministers council called on the UN Security Council to hold a high level meeting to stop the current Arab-Israeli fighting. The Council assigned the responsibility of conveying this message to the Arab League's head council, the Arab peace committee and the Secretary General Amr Moussa. The Council condemned, during their urgent session today, the Israeli attacks on Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. It warned that the region will be sucked into war due to the Israeli acts. It urged the involved parts to respect and act upon the 1949 Geneva fourth convention concerning Human rights. The Lebanese complaint to the Security Council was met by support of the Foreign Ministers' Council. Arab Foreign Ministers' officials also expressed their sorrow towards the massacres committed on the Palestinian people and they shared disappointment regarding the US use of veto which spoils the Security Council efforts in reaching peace and tranquillity in the Palestinian territories. The Foreign Ministers' council renewed its adoption of the peace proposal which was reached in the 14th Arab summit in Beirut. Negotiations between the involved parties must resume in order to stop the current crisis, said the statement by the Foreign Ministers' council. The Arab League Foreign Ministers council is still in session to keep up with the recent developments in the Middle East crisis. The foreign ministers of 18 Arab countries passed a unanimous resolution calling on the UN Security Council to intervene to stop escalating Middle East fighting. "The Middle East peace process has failed. The whole process should now be sent back to the Security Council for a complete overhaul," said Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa. "We are going to the Security Council this is a unanimous position to discuss the whole situation from scratch," he said. "If the Security Council fails, nobody knows what might happen next," he added, pronouncing the whole Middle East peace process "dead." Arab Foreign Ministers agreed on three resolution during their emergency meeting, Hussein Mohammed Al Shaali, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said. Al Shaali, who chaired the meeting, said that first and second draft resolutions were submitted by Palestine and Lebanon respectively while the third resolution reflected the Arab League's point of view on the current developments in the two countries. The meeting was attended by Amr Musa, Secretary General of the Arab League and a number of Arab Foreign Ministers. The Arab League issued the following resolutions: * The Arab League Council at the ministerial level, at its extraordinary meeting (in Cairo) on 15 July 2006: -- As it followed very anxiously and fully condemned the escalating Israeli aggression against the Lebanese Republic and the occupied Palestinian territories; -- And after studying the dangerous developments connected with the Israeli aggression against civilians and the infrastructure in both the Palestinian territories and Lebanon; -- And while it affirms its complete solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples in the face of the Israeli aggression and war machine; -- And as it takes into consideration the developments in the exacerbating situation in the Middle East as a result of the obstruction of the settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with UNSC resolutions and the principle of land-for-peace, and the rise in the state of despair, frustration, and feelings of injustice and anger and the results of that; -- And as it affirms the right of nations to resist occupation and aggression; -- And after hearing the secretary general's report to the council, resolves: 1. To condemn continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories that harm civilians and damage the infrastructure, and affirms complete solidarity with them in the face of what they are being subjected to, and to warn of the danger of the entire region sliding toward a confrontation in view of the current escalation by Israel in both Lebanon and the Palestinian territories; 2. To call on the international community, and the UNSC in particular, to shoulder its responsibility and to move immediately to call on Israel to completely desist from its military hostilities, and to urge all sides to respect the principles and norms of humanitarian international law and to implement the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians in war time, stop the escalation and violence, and search for a settlement through dialogue and negotiations; 3. To affirm the Arab stand as stated in the Arab peace initiative adopted by the 14th Arab summit (Beirut 2002); 4. To emphasize that the continuation of the present situation poses a great threat to regional and international peace and security, a matter that calls for the need to find a comprehensive and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, and (the activation) of the terms of reference of the peace process and relevant UN resolutions, in view of the fact that the occupation is the main reason for all the tension and violence we see in the region; and notes the decision of the UN secretary general to send a team to the Middle East to probe ways of finding an immediate solution to the present crisis by peaceful means; 5. To call on the sides to begin immediate negotiations on the exchange of prisoners; 6. To call on all the sides not to engage in actions that are likely to lead to undermining the security and stability of the region, for it is the states of the region and their peoples that have to bear the consequences of such actions that do not serve their interests; and to emphasize the unity of Arab action in this regard and to activate complete and joint coordination and consultation within the framework of the Arab League on everything connected with developments in the Arab-Israeli conflict, and in a manner that is compatible with the resolutions of Arab summits; 7. To call on the UNSC to meet at a high level to consider the Arab-Israeli conflict in a radical and comprehensive manner, in view of the failure of all the efforts to resume the peace process and the abortion of the progress of a peaceful settlement, and to ask the (Arab League) council presidency, the Arab Peace Initiative Committee, and the Arab League secretary general to coordinate and hold the necessary contacts in that regard; 8. To keep the council in session to follow up developments in the situation; 9. To ask the secretary general to hold the necessary contacts to follow up implementation of this resolution. * The Arab League Council at the ministerial council, at its extraordinary meeting on 15 July 2006: After taking cognizance of the memorandum of the Arab League secretariat, and after listening to the review presented by the head of the delegation of the Lebanese Republic, and in view of the continued open Israeli aggression against Lebanon and its people, resolves: 1. To condemn the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, an aggression that conflicts with all international resolutions, laws, and norms, and to pay tribute to the souls of the martyrs and the steadfastness of the Lebanese and their anxiousness to maintain their solidarity and unity that are a basic factor in confronting the occupation; 2. To demonstrate absolute solidarity with Lebanon and to support its steadfastness in the face of the treacherous attack against civilians and which is claiming innocent lives and inflicting heavy material and economic losses; 3. To affirm full support for the Lebanese complaint to the UNSC and to ask the UNSC to adopt an immediate resolution on instituting a comprehensive cease-fire and lifting the Israeli blockade of Lebanon; 4. To support Lebanon's assertion that it will respect the resolutions of international legality and that it will respect the Blue Line (in southern Lebanon). 5. To affirm complete support for the Lebanese Government in its determination to exercise its responsibilities in protecting Lebanon and the Lebanese and safeguarding their security and safety, and to affirm the Lebanese Government's right and duty to exercise its authority on all of its territory and to exercise its sovereignty at home and abroad; 6. To consider that the continuation of the acts of destruction and killing carried out by Israel against the Lebanese people makes the existing problem more difficult and complicated and leads to undermining stability, peace, and security in the region; 7. To hold Israel responsible for making reparations for the losses and destruction that resulted from its aggression against Lebanese territory. * The Arab League Council at the ministerial council, at its extraordinary meeting on 15 July 2006: -- After taking cognizance of the secretariat's memorandum, -- As it follows with concern and interest the escalation of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian territories and the targeting of civilians, the destruction of the infrastructure, and the perpetration of massacres that have claimed the lives of entire families in the Gaza Strip, -- And as it expresses its full condemnation of such attacks that constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, -- And as it expresses its great regret at the United States' exercise of the right of veto to protect Israeli aggression and foiling the UNSC in carrying out its responsibilities with regard to the maintenance of security and peace in the Palestinian territories, -- And as it points to Israel's persistence in violating the agreements, understandings, and pledges to which it committed itself with the PLO and other Arab sides, including the Sharm al-Sheikh understandings (of 8 August 2005) on measures to calm down the situation and to free prisoners and detainees, resolves: 1. To condemn the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian territories, the targeting of civilians, the destruction of the infrastructure, and all the blockade and closure measures which -- according to the rules of humanitarian international law -- constitute collective punishment and war crimes, and to call for the immediate end to such measures; 2. To seek through international mechanisms to stop the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian territories immediately, and to bring about the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the areas it occupied recently; 3. To call for the release of all the Palestinian ministers, Palestinian Legislative Council members, and officials who have been detained, and to bring about an exchange of prisoners and detainees within the framework of the United Nations or through third parties; 4. To determine (call for determination) not to molest all civilians and to provide them with protection in accordance with the rules of humanitarian international law and the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, and to establish (call for establishing) a force of international observers to protect the Palestinian people; 5. To lift (call for lifting) the financial, economic, and physical siege and to assess the heavy losses inflicted on Palestinian installations and infrastructure, and to hold Israel -- the occupying power -- responsible for compensating the Palestinian people for all those losses; 6. To affirm the vital importance of safeguarding the unity of Palestinian ranks and to welcome the Palestinian agreement that was reached within the framework of national dialogue, and to call for supporting and strengthening that agreement and for implementing its resolutions so as to achieve national unity; 7. To ask the secretary general to hold the necessary consultations and contacts in order to implement this resolution, and to keep the council session open. On the other hand Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal met in Cairo Vejay Nambiar, the Special Advisor of the U.N. Secretary General and his envoy on Lebanese crisis. During the meeting, they discussed the emerging tense situation after the Israeli offensive against Lebanon. |
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