Egypt State Information Service

Egypt has been playing a leading role in supporting the Arab issues, foremost among which are the issues of the Arab-Israeli conflict, Iraq, Sudan, the Arab League reform and boosting the joint Arab action.

Egypt's Arab policies are governed by a number of basic elements as follows:

-Drawing up a joint vision on serving the supreme Arab interests and maintaining Arab national security.

-Mutual respect to the sovereignty of the Arab countries and non-interference in the internal affairs.

-Maintaining independence of the Arab decision-making process.

-Enhancing ties of solidarity among the Arab countries and seeking peaceful means in solving the Arab disputes.

-Preserving the Arab resources and boosting the development process in the Arab countries.

-Boosting the economic and trade ties between the Arab countries with the ultimate goal of establishing the common Arab market.

-Respect to the pan-Arab treaties such as the Arab League Charter and the joint Arab defense treaty.

-Establishing good relations with non-Arab countries in the region based on principles of mutual respect.

Egypt has been seeking reform of the Arab League as a basic step toward enhancing the joint Arab action.

In this regard, Egypt has proposed an initiative in July 2003 to restructure the pan-Arab organization.

The Egyptian initiative suggests several procedural amendments in the Arab League such as changing the voting system and amending the League Charter, which was drafted in 1946.

The Egyptian plan also suggests the creation of several new bodies such as a Crisis Prevention Council, an Arab Court of Justice, Arab Security Council (ASC) and Arab National Security Forum (ANSF).

The ASC or the ANSF would serve to map out an effective Arab national security strategy.
The ASC would be able to move rapidly to take definitive decisions without being hampered by veto overrides or the need for unanimous voting.

It would also have the power to follow up and implement its decisions.

Another creation would be an Arab Parliament which would add legitimacy to the League's decisions. It would oversee Arab League organizations, budgetary discussions, and assist in drafting the general policies of the League.

Highlighting Egypt's stance in this respect, President Hosni Mubarak stressed that the Egyptian proposal to overhaul the Arab League aims to enhance the joint Arab action.

"It is essential to reform the regional and Arab order, as well as activate and revive the role of the Arab League," Mubarak said.

Mubarak stressed that the League must have the strength to "contain Arab conflicts at the very start with a modern system of Arab national security based on clear mechanisms".

President Mubarak maintained that the initiative primarily aims to "clear the air among Arab states, denounce the use of force in inter-Arab tensions, promote the role of the Arab League in activating joint Arab action and emphasize the importance of a common Arab market.
Mubarak noted that the private sector would also play a major role in developing Arab economies and promoting Arab economic integration.