PAN Arab Summit and Togetherness

Amidst great Arab and international care and strong positive indications that Arab leaders endeavours to achieve solidarity and protect peace would prosper, the Pan-Arab Summit opened in Cairo on 22 June, 1996 under chairmanship of President Hosni Mubarak who gave a history-making address at the opening session.

The Summit opened 55 minutes behind schedule, exactly at 11:55 a.m. because there were several bilateral meetings on the sidelines amounting to 25 almost. 15 Arab Heads of State participated plus some Crown Princes and Heads of Government. There were two closed sessions on 22 June, besides the plenary , and on 23 June they held the closing session, addressed their Declaration and Foreign Minister Amr Moussa gave an international press conference.

Meetings in plenty
President Assad of Syria had two meetings with King Hussein of Jordan and Palestinian Leader Arafat, respectively, in the presence of President Mubarak... A meeting between Mubarak and Al-Bashir of the Sudan also took place, and Arab leaders went on with their consultations and talks the evening at a working dinner.

Do it regularly
Some sources indicated that the Arab leaders have agreed to hold the Summit periodically, and Tunisia has requested to host the next session. The Summit received two messages from the Heads of State of Russia and China, both asserting their countries would support the peace process. Also, the European Union voiced support to the Cairo Summit. The AFP described President Mubarak as the man for Arab reconciliation.

President Mubarak received, on phone, congratulations on Summit success from King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, and he had meetings with the Kuwaiti Crown Prince, Omani & Qatari Deputy-Premiers.

Addressing the gathering
Following is Mubarak's address to the Summit:-
Your Majesties, Excellencies and Royal Highnesses, The Arab League Secretary General, members of the delegations,

With all cordial feelings and appreciation, I welcome you in Egypt among your kinsmen, who value your keenness to take part in this conference, which is held in due time to preserve our high objectives and is a categorical evidence of the vitality of this glorious nation "the best that ever was on the face of the earth".

This nation has proved its capability to face up to its responsibilities and rise to the level of challenges whenever circumstances deem it necessary. It has also proved that it can never give in to defeat nor fall victim to incapacity. It has never hesitated to have a role in formulating a new world, that is being transferred to an age, full of radical developments and transformations.
I do not need to state that the convocation of this conference at this particular time and at this high level is not a matter of coincidence. It has not taken place as a result of apprehension and concern, not as a counter-reaction to ascertain event or development.

In fact, it is both logical and natural due to the critical stage through which our great march passes, in as much as it is incumbent upon us to probe and discuss certain important issues in a spirit of honesty, objectivity and truth, with full awareness of our responsibility to defend the basic interests of our nation and enhance its upswing towards new vistas in future.

These same factors were behind the call by many of us during the past years to convene an expanded summit that realises the aspirations of the masses, voices determination to close ranks, adopts a unified stand, and formulates an integrated vision of the future with all its dangers, aspirations and challenges.

These same factors were behind bilateral and multilateral Arab summits, held to realize the most possible objectives within their limited scores until more favourable circumstances pave the way for an expanded summit. We thank God Almighty that this has been recently achieved due to your steady and sincere efforts, and the sound choice of the convenient time to move contacts among us in deliberations to call and prepare for the summit. This has revealed that the issue is of paramount importance to all of us and to our peoples, to close Arab ranks, clear the atmosphere and enhance Arab solidarity and cooperation within context of a unified goal and destiny, in order to confront the great challenges ahead of us.

We are keen to place the current differences within our one family in their proper perspective and evade any further deterioration & escalation.

We should exert efforts to settle differences through effective mechanisms that secure the continuity of our endeavours and create an atmosphere of good will and fruitful efforts. In such favourable circumstances we can discuss together and move towards defending our national security as one man in facing dangers and threats without any encroachments on the rights and interests of others. We are a nation that bears no grudge against anyone for we believe in co-existence in justice with other nations.

We also believe in the right of others to defend their interests and enjoy their rights and that balanced ties among various countries are brought about by an equity in rights & duties and the rule of principles and regulations of international norms; those that have won world consent.


The Egyptian Delegation
Solidarity for peace
As I stated in my address on March 22,1995 on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of Arab League - the home of Arabs where their unified crystallises - that current international and regional changes make it incumbent upon us to adopt a unified stand and coordinate our efforts in a bid to reach a clear-cut strategy of our collective relations with the new world and the huge economic blocs which emerged during the past few years. We should choose the method whereby we can deal with the new values and systems which have started to be approved in international relations.

I said at that time and repeat once again before you, that our time-honoured nation is fully qualified to participate effectively in this historic transformation witnessed worldwide, due to its history and heritage of knowledge and science that are based on reason and wisdom, believing in the unity of human heritage, and seeking to attain objectivity away from excess and exaggeration.

Allow me here to refer to a proposal I presented in March 1995 to prepare a new Arab code of honour to evade devastating differences in our family in future, contain any disputes so as to avoid further escalation that may threaten our national security and underline our commitment to the principles and rules of the Arab League Charter, foremost among which are respect for regional sovereignty, independence and peace of all countries, the pledge of each one of us not to interfere in the affairs of others and to settle our problems by peaceful means.

In reviewing the present regional situation we are first encountered with the dire need of advancing just & comprehensive peace process, and the commitment of the parties concerned to the basics of peace laid down by the international community over the year, and according to principles agreed upon by the parties themselves. It is needless to stress that peace to the Arab Nation is inalienable strategic goal. We are not warmongers, but seek to realize the various peoples' aspirations in development, construction and progress. Hence our peace option is that of one who is capable and confident, and not an option of the oppressed who has no other alternative.

Therefore, we insist on pursuing the road to peace and struggle until it is complete and fruitful. None of us wishes to return to war and destruction, nor seek to revert to the state of no-war, no-peace. We are sincerely determined to struggle for peace until the end. We are prepared to face its challenges and aftermath as long as the other party agrees on this course, and accepts to endure the peace commitments and its consequences. Naturally, peace is a legal and factual state that can only be achieved by the will of both parties, mutual wish and equal endeavour.

Perhaps, it is convenient here to add several points which I believe are essential and important to clarify the true envisagement of peace not only from the Arab viewpoint, but also from that of the international community of which we are an integral part and cannot be isolated from its values and principles.

First: we seek to realize a comprehensive and just peace which will continue until the goal agreed upon is attained and wins wide-scale international blessings following the signing of final accords with all neighbouring parties which have not yet reached peace agreement with Israel, namely Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinian authority.

Balanced Attitude
With King Hussein of Jordan
Second: The negotiations which we all seek to resume and continue in order to reach a comprehensive peace cannot carried out in a vacuum, but rather are governed by the Madrid framework namely, commitment to Security Council resolutions Number 242, 338 and 425 as well as the principle of land-for-peace which will be realized by total withdrawal from the Golan Heights and Lebanon, and recognizing the palestinian people's legitimate political rights, which can only be achieved by practicing their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state.

Third: It is unacceptable for any party to seek, by words or deeds, to destroy this legal fact for it constitutes the basics on which the bilateral and multilateral negotiations have been carried out since the Madrid Conference which was held late in October 1991, it is a framework within which all parties are committed to work.

Fourth: No party has the right to rule out or avoid tackling any point in the negotiations because all parties are committed to deal with all issues tabled on the agenda according to the Madrid formula foremost among which are issues related to the final status of the West Bank including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. If any party allows itself to choose what to negotiate and what not, then this means that the other parties have the same right, which thus reverts the peace process to the zero point or rather totally destroys it.

Fifth: Good will in negotiations requires from all parties to commit themselves to the honest and accurate implementation of any agreement reached. Without this, no peace drives could be possibly resumed or completed and all past agreements would be gone with the wind, and people's confidence in peace and their belief in its existence would be dispersed.

Sixth: As we have always avoided to resort to threats and impose a fait accompli on the other party in negotiations, namely, Israel, and as we have always adhered to our commitments, therefore, we ask Israel, from the same standpoint, to strictly fulfill its pledges and commitments within the context of the peace process, away from any threats or attempts to impose a status quo, or adopting extremists stances that do not abide by concluded agreements.

Seventh: We have and still believe that realizing an equitable and comprehensive peace is the sole means to achieve security and stability for all parties. Security cannot be realized by the occupation of land and ignoring others' rights, not by adopting the concept of regional expansion or superiority, not by the stock-piling of weapons of mass destruction, or the resort to oppression and violence. Such practices undermine peace and security, jeopardize stability and development, and dash hopes in a better future.

Against this background of concepts and principles, we call upon the new Israeli government to cooperate with us, so as to complete the peace process without slackness or hesitation. We call upon the Israeli government to prove its commitment to real peace known to the international community, no more, no less. We do not base our policies on previous rulings.

We are only concerned with that is actually down to earth. We make our decisions according to firm objective facts. We do not resort to putting obstacles on the path of sublime aims in which we believe and to which we are devoted.

At the present moment, we feel that we are at a fate determining stage, once again, we face the great challenge of to be or not to be. No doubt our great nation is fully qualified to face this challenge, and is capable of proceeding along the road towards new vistas with firm undoubting and confident steps, a strong and unified will and an all-out vision that will take us to an honourable place under the sun. The masses of the nation and their leadership are determined to proceed forward towards a new dawn. No power whatever it may be will destroy this great dream as long as we have pledged before God to accept the challenge for the sake of our present and future, and for the sake of the coming generations who bear the dangers of struggle for a better future, they are the guardians of our march of progress and construction.

May God grant us success, and help us succeed in our endeavours.

Discussing everything
The Arab leaders attending Cairo Summit discussed general matters during their in-camera sessions, Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said.
Discussing everything, even including differences is good for reaching an ultimately common understanding which is the aim of the Pan-Arab Summit, he added.