DATE=9/11/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ - ARAB LEAGUE L-O
NUMBER=2-253736
BYLINE=LISA BRYANT
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Foreign ministers of Arab League countries
gather in Egypt Sunday for their twice-yearly meeting
at the League's Cairo headquarters. But Lisa Bryant
reports from Cairo that one thing will be far from
normal: this time, for the first time since the
Persian Gulf War, Iraq is chairing the meeting.
TEXT: The last time the Arab League's foreign
ministers met, in January, Iraqi Foreign Minister
Saeed al-Sahaf stormed out of the session. He was
angry that his colleagues refused to strongly condemn
the December U-S and British bombing raids on Iraq.
Now the Iraqi Foreign Minister is back -- as the new
rotating chair of the Arab League. Although the
foreign ministers are expected to discuss routine Arab
political and economic issues, Arab analyst Mohammad
Said expects Iraq will be lobbying for its own
interests.
Mr. Said, of the Al-Ahram Center for Political and
Strategic Studies, says Baghdad will again push other
Arab countries to condemn ongoing U-S and British
strikes in Iraqi no-fly zones. Mr. al-Sahaf is also
likely to call for warmer Arab political and economic
ties with Iraq. But whether his demands will be met is
another question.
//SAID ACT//
Iraq is not going to get condemnation of the
American constant bombing of Iraq, but it will
get something. That will range from sympathy for
the Iraqi people's plight in relation to
humanitarian losses, and the humanitarian issue
at large pertaining to sanctions. And possibly
also a call for a new program for the
elimination of sanctions on Iraq.
//END ACT//
But Mr. Said believes that any Arab League declaration
on these matters will not be a unanimous one. He said
countries like Yemen and Libya will support Iraq's
cause. But Persian Gulf states -- particularly Kuwait,
which was invaded by Iraq in 1990 -- will not.
Even before the Arab League meetings get underway,
Arab press reports have described behind-the-scenes
arguments. There have been fears that not all
countries would send representatives to the session,
and speculation about why the League meeting was
postponed for a week. But Mr. Said says he believes
most of the major problems are now resolved.
On his arrival in Cairo Friday, Foreign Minister al-
Sahaf said Baghdad was eager to build unity among Arab
League countries. But it is unclear whether Iraq will
cooperate with a new Arab League committee aimed to
help end U-N sanctions on Iraq.
The Iraq sanctions issue comes up in London just days
after the Arab League sessions. The five permanent
members of the U-N Security Council meet to discuss
chances of easing sanctions on Baghdad, and ways to
restore weapons inspections that were suspended last
December. (SIGNED)
NEB/LB/DW/JO
11-Sep-1999 10:08 AM EDT (11-Sep-1999 1408 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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