DATE=1/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225261
TITLE=ARABS/TERRORISM (S & L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE ARAB PARLIAMENTARY UNION IS HOLDING AN EMERGENCY
SESSION ON TERRORISM IN THE SOUTHERN EGYPTIAN TOWN OF LUXOR --
SCENE OF LAST YEAR'S BLOODY ATTACK BY ISLAMIST EXTREMISTS THAT
LEFT MORE THAN 60 PEOPLE DEAD, MOST OF THEM (EDS: 58) FOREIGN
TOURISTS. VOA'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN CAIRO REPORTS THE MEETING IS
PART OF A RENEWED EFFORT BY ARAB GOVERNMENTS TO COMBAT TERRORISM.
TEXT: IN A GESTURE OF SOLIDARITY WITH EGYPT, LUXOR WAS NAMED
THE ARAB PARLIAMENTARY UNION'S TEMPORARY HEADQUARTERS, SOON AFTER
LAST NOVEMBER'S ATTACK THAT LEFT 58 FOREIGN VISITORS DEAD AND
SHATTERED THIS COUNTRY'S TOURISM INDUSTRY.
THE ARAB LEGISLATORS SPENT THE NIGHT BEFORE TUESDAY'S MEETING AT
TOURIST HOTELS IN LUXOR ... THAT HAVE BEEN ALL BUT EMPTY SINCE
THE ATTACK.
IN A MESSAGE TO THE ONE-DAY SESSION, EGYPT'S PRESIDENT HOSNI
MUBARAK CALLED TERRORISM ONE OF THE GRAVEST THREATS CONFRONTING
MANKIND, AND HE URGED THE DELEGATES TO FACE UP TO THE CHALLENGE.
EGYPT WANTS ARAB PARLIAMENTS TO ADOPT TOUGHER DOMESTIC LAWS
AGAINST TERRORISM, AND TO STRENGTHEN REGIONAL COOPERATION AGAINST
TERRORISTS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS.
///REMAINDER OPT FOR LONG C-R///
ARAB NEWSPAPER REPORTS SAY CAIRO IS URGING THE ARAB WORLD TO
ADOPT A COMPREHENSIVE NEW STRATEGY THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT
DOMESTIC AS WELL AS INTERNATIONAL ASPECTS OF TERRORISM.
THE EGYPTIAN PLAN REPORTEDLY INCLUDES A COMMITMENT BY ARAB STATES
TO EXTRADITE TERRORISTS. THE REPORTS SAY IT ALSO CALLS FOR
STIFF PENALTIES AGAINST ANY NATION PROVEN TO BE A SUPPORTER OR
SPONSOR OF TERRORISM.
ARAB OFFICIALS HAVE DISCUSSED THESE AND OTHER STEPS IN THE PAST,
BUT HAVE FREQUENTLY RUN INTO DIFFICULTIES OVER THE DEFINITION OF
TERRORISM -- HOW TO MAKE A LEGAL DISTINCTION BETWEEN TERRORIST
ACTS AND WHAT ARE TERMED LEGITIMATE STRUGGLES AGAINST FOREIGN
OCCUPATION?
FOR MOST ARAB GOVERNMENTS, THIS MEANS DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN THE
ISLAMIST EXTREMISTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MASSACRES IN EGYPT AND
ALGERIA, AND THE LEBANESE MILITANTS STRUGGLING AGAINST THE
ISRAELI OCCUPATION OF SOUTHERN LEBANON.
BUT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER ACTS OF VIOLENCE BY ARAB MILITANTS THAT
COMPLICATE THE TASK FACING ARAB GOVERNMENTS.
THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, FOR EXAMPLE, IS NOT LIKELY TO
FORMALLY CONDONE A NEW STRATEGY AGAINST TERRORISM THAT EXEMPTS
THE HAMAS MILITANTS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUICIDE ATTACKS IN ISRAEL.
NOR WOULD THE MOROCCAN GOVERNMENT AGREE TO A PLAN THAT PLACES THE
POLISARIO GUERRILLAS OF THE (EDS: MOROCCAN-CONTROLLED) WESTERN
SAHARA IN THE CATEGORY OF GROUPS ENGAGED IN LEGITIMATE STRUGGLES
AGAINST FOREIGN OCCUPATION.
THE ISSUE SURFACED AT A MEETING OF ARAB INTERIOR MINISTERS
EARLIER THIS MONTH IN TUNIS. THE SESSION WAS CONVENED TO APPROVE
A NEW PAN-ARAB ACCORD ON TERRORISM. BUT DIFFERENCES AROSE DURING
THE TALKS, AND FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT WAS
POSTPONED UNTIL APRIL. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/PCF
14-Jan-98 10:12 AM EST (1512 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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