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DATE=1/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244633
TITLE=IRAQ/ARAB DIPLOMACY (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  IN THE MIDDLE EAST, ARAB GOVERNMENTS HAVE REACTED ANGRILY
TO IRAQ'S WALKOUT SUNDAY BY ARAB FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING IN 
EGYPT.  RICHARD ENGEL REPORTS FROM CAIRO THAT OBSERVERS SAY IRAQ 
MAY HAVE MISCALCULATED ITS LEVEL OF SUPPORT AMONG ARABS, AND HAS 
FURTHER ISOLATED ITSELF FROM ARAB GOVERNMENTS.
TEXT:  NEWSPAPERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST MONDAY SAY THAT IRAQ WASTED 
AN OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN SUPPORT FROM ARAB NATIONS. THEY ADD THAT
IRAQ'S WALKOUT OF AN ARAB LEAGUE MEETING WILL ONLY WORSEN ITS 
RELATIONS WITH ARAB GOVERNMENTS.
QATAR'S PENINSULA NEWSPAPER SAYS BAGHDAD HAS  NOT  ONLY FORFEITED
AN OPPORTUNITY TO WIN VALUABLE SUPPORT FOR THE LIFTING OF 
SANCTIONS, BUT ALSO SQUANDERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A 
PROPOSED UPCOMING ARAB SUMMIT.
SAUDI ARABIA'S OKAZ NEWSPAPER SAYS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEAL WITH 
IRAQI LEADERS AND CALLS FOR THEIR REMOVAL.
ON SUNDAY, IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMMED SAEED AL SAHAF STORMED
OUT OF AN ARAB LEAGUE MEETING AFTER THE FOREIGN MINISTERS REFUSED
TO CONDEMN LAST MONTH'S U-S AND BRITISH MILITARY ASSAULT AGAINST 
IRAQ.  //OPT// THE IRAQI MINISTER CALLED THE OTHER MINISTERS AND 
THEIR GOVERNMENTS "TRAITORS" AND |U-S LACKEYS." //END OPT//
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE AL AHRAM CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES,
MOHAMMED SAYID SAID, (EDS, PRON: "SAY-ID SAA-ID"), SAYS IRAQ 
GROSSLY MISREADS THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT IT RECEIVES FROM THE ARAB 
PEOPLE.
                       ///SAYID ACT///   
         THEY THINK THEY HAVE THE ARAB MASSES IN THEIR HANDS. 
         THEY THINK THEY CAN MOVE THE ARAB MASSES AS THEY WISH. 
         THEY FEEL THEY HAVE ACHIEVED SUCCESSES IN THE 
         INTERNATIONAL ARENA MUCH BEYOND THE FACTS ON THE GROUND.
                         ///END ACT///  
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO PROFESSOR EARL SULLIVAN SAYS THE 
IRAQI LEADERSHIP ALSO MISUNDERSTANDS ARAB DIPLOMACY BECAUSE IT 
HAS BECOME ISOLATED.  HE SAYS IRAQ CANNOT FULLY MEND FENCES WITH 
ARAB GOVERNMENTS UNTIL IT APOLOGIZES FOR THE GULF WAR.
                       ///SULLIVAN ACT/// 
         KUWAIT WANTS A PUBLIC APOLOGY AND A PLEDGE THEY WILL 
         NEVER AGAIN CLAIM KUWAIT AS THE 19TH PROVINCE. 
                         ///END ACT///  
OBSERVERS SAY, HOWEVER, THAT BY WALKING OUT OF AN ARAB LEAGUE 
MEETING AND INSULTING OTHER ARAB GOVERNMENTS, IRAQ DOES  NOT  
APPEAR TO BE INTERESTED IN COURTING ITS ARAB NEIGHBORS -- AT 
LEAST FOR NOW. (SIGNED) 
NEB/RHE/SB/PCF
25-Jan-99 9:43 AM EST (1443 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.