Iraq Missing from Arab Summit Agenda Due in Baghdad

[NB2D]

BAGHDAD — The Arab League is due to hold its next summit in Baghdad on March 29. This is the first time members of the league will come together in a meeting in Iraq’s capital in more than two decades.

Rudaw asked people on the streets of Baghdad for their opinion on what this summit may mean to the Iraqi people.

“We are used to the disappointing outcome of the Arab Summits since our early childhood,” said Abdulilah Khidr, a 57-year-old resident of Baghdad. “Their decisions have changed nothing for Arab problems and they do not even care.”

According to Ali Al Dabbagh, an Iraqi government spokesperson, the situation in Iraq will not be on the main agenda of the Arab Summit due to the more pressing issues of Syria and the Arab Spring.

“The agenda of the Arab Summit in Baghdad will include discussing the issue of Palestine and the changes in the region brought about by the Arab Spring,” said Al Dabbagh.

In a recent press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, deputy head of the Arab League Ahmed bin Hilli said, “We agreed on all the arrangements. There will be a meeting for ministers of economy on the 27th, ministers of foreign affairs on the 28th and a meeting for the Arab leaders on the 29th of March.”

Some Iraqis are disappointed that the summit will not discuss Iraq.

“Iraqi is the most important issue in the region, because stability in the Arab countries and the region directly depend on the situation in Iraq,” said Yassin Mizhir Al Kazimi, an Iraqi citizen, aged 44. “The Arab leaders are making a big mistake by not taking this into account.”

“What is the point of discussing the Palestinian issue?” said Kamil Isawi, 31, a resident of Fallujah. “The superpowers, including the U.S., could not solve this issue. They are just pointlessly filling their time. I hope there will be serious discussion of issues such as unemployment, hunger and human rights in the Arab world.”

The last Arab Summit held in Iraq was in May 1990. It was an emergency summit led by former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

Aziz Jabr, a professor of political science at Mustansiriya University in Baghdad, said, “Some Arab countries tried to hamper this summit in Iraq with the aim of weakening Iraq’s role in the region. Some known political groups inside Iraq have also tried to undermine this summit due to their differences with the current Iraqi government and to prevent the Iraqi government from scoring any positive points.”

Jabr believes a successful summit will be an achievement for all of Iraq and personal interests should be set aside.

“Iraq cannot change or amend the agenda of the Arab Summit; neither can any other country,” Jabr said. “Iraq is only hosting the summit.”

In Jabr’s opinion, putting Iraq’s domestic issues on the summit’s agenda is not logical, saying, “All countries have their own internal issues.”

According to Iraqi diplomatic sources, 14 Arab heads of state have confirmed their participation at the summit in Baghdad so far.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki told the Saudi newspaper Okaz, “Iraq has made all the arrangements for the summit. I suggest encouraging cooperation in the fields of media, fighting terrorism and the economy as these are the sources that feed terrorism.”

Maliki, who has been accused of supporting Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad against his own people, told Okaz, “Our goal in this summit is to evaluate the so called the Arab Spring, and find ways to channel it and use it in a way that serves the goals of the nations without disturbing the stability in the Arab region.”

http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/iraq/4510.html

[jas428]

Which is precisely why we can't expect any major announcements at the Summit. These leaders are coming to work out problems in their own nations, not every major meeting of the minds has to do with an RV. JMO but this is a typical Summit, as every year, its not focused on Iraq....there are other major problems in the Arab world. We just tend to not pay attention to them.

[MiuraDude]

Arab Spring? Anyone have any idea what that's about?

[TXNOLE]

i am beginning to think that the only ones truly concerned about the dinar RV'ing are foreign investors!

[Captjohn]

Which is precisely why we can't expect any major announcements at the Summit. These leaders are coming to work out problems in their own nations, not every major meeting of the minds has to do with an RV. JMO but this is a typical Summit, as every year, its not focused on Iraq....there are other major problems in the Arab world. We just tend to not pay attention to them.

Hosting the Arab Summit has never been about focusing the agenda on Iraq and its needs. It has been everything about how Iraq as host nation looks to its Arab bretheran....read...RV. The event should mark Iraq's "Comming Out" to the Arab world.

[ronscarpa]

thanks for the article NB2D...!

RON

[Carrello]

Arab Spring? Anyone have any idea what that's about?

I am not clear about your question regarding Arab Spring. Can you expand, please.

[yota691]

The Arab League (Arabic: الجامعة العربية‎ al-Jāmiʻa al-ʻArabiyya), officially called the League of Arab States (Arabic: جامعة الدول العربية‎ Jāmiʻat ad-Duwal al-ʻArabiyya), is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia (Middle East). It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan (renamed Jordan in 1949), Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a member on 5 May 1945. The Arab League currently has 22 members (including one, Syria, whose participation was suspended in November 2011). The main goal of the league is to "draw closer the relations between member States and co-ordinate collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab countries."[2]

Through institutions such as the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and the Economic and Social Council of the Arab League's Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU), the Arab League facilitates political, economic, cultural, scientific and social programs designed to promote the interests of the Arab world.[3][4] It has served as a forum for the member states to coordinate their policy positions, to deliberate on matters of common concern, to settle some Arab disputes, and to limit conflicts such as the 1958 Lebanon crisis. The League has served as a platform for the drafting and conclusion of many landmark documents promoting economic integration. One example is the Joint Arab Economic Action Charter which sets out the principles for economic activities in the region.

Each member state has only one vote in the League Council, while decisions are binding only for those states that have voted for them. The aims of the league in 1945 were to strengthen and coordinate the political, cultural, economic, and social programs of its members, and to mediate disputes among them or between them and third parties. Furthermore, the signing of an agreement on Joint Defense and Economic Cooperation on 13 April 1950 committed the signatories to coordination of military defense measures.

The Arab League has played a role in shaping school curricula, advancing the role of women in the Arab societies, promoting child welfare, encouraging youth and sports programs, preserving Arab cultural heritage, and fostering cultural exchanges between the member states.[citation needed] Literacy campaigns have been launched, intellectual works reproduced, and modern technical terminology is translated for the use within member states. The league encourages measures against crime and drug abuse, and deals with labour issues—particularly among the emigrant Arab workforce. History

Main article: History of the Arab League

Following adoption of the Alexandria Protocol in 1944, the Arab League was founded on 22 March 1945. It aimed to be a regional organisation of Arab states with a focus to developing the economy, resolving disputes, and coordinating political aims.[5] Other countries joined the league at later dates.[6] Each country was given one vote in the council. The first major action was the joint intervention, allegedly on behalf of the majority Arab population that was being uprooted as the State of Israel emerged in 1948 (and in response to popular outcry in the Arab world), although in fact a main participant in this intervention, Transjordan, had agreed with the Israelis to divide up the Arab Palestinian state proposed by the UN General Assembly, while Egypt intervened primarily to prevent its rival in Amman from accomplishing its objective.[7] This was followed by the creation of a mutual defense treaty two years later. A common market was established in 1965.[5] (Robert W. MacDonald, The League of Arab States: A Study in Regional Organization. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1965.) Political policy and administration

Headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo

Main articles: Government of the Arab League and Arab Parliament

The Charter of the Arab League[2] endorsed the principle of an Arab homeland while respecting the sovereignty of the individual member states. The internal regulations of the Council of the League[14] and the committees[15] were agreed in October 1951. Those of the Secretariat-General were agreed in May 1953.[16]

Since then, governance of the Arab League has been based on the duality of supra-national institutions and the sovereignty of the member states. Preservation of individual statehood derived its strengths from the natural preference of ruling elites to maintain their power and independence in decision making. Moreover, the fear of the richer that the poorer may share their wealth in the name of Arab nationalism, the feuds among Arab rulers, and the influence of external powers that might oppose Arab unity can be seen as obstacles towards a deeper integration of the league.

Mindful of their previous announcements in support of the Arabs of Palestine the framers of the Pact were determined to include them within the League from its inauguration.[17] This was done by means of an annex that declared:[2]

“ Even though Palestine was not able to control her own destiny, it was on the basis of the recognition of her independence that the Covenant of the League of Nations determined a system of government for her. Her existence and her independence among the nations can, therefore, no more be questioned de jure than the independence of any of the other Arab States. [...] Therefore, the States signatory to the Pact of the Arab League consider that in view of Palestine's special circumstances, the Council of the League should designate an Arab delegate from Palestine to participate in its work until this country enjoys actual independence ”

At the Cairo Summit of 1964, the Arab League initiated the creation of an organisation representing the Palestinian people. The first Palestinian National Council convened in East Jerusalem on 29 May 1964. The Palestinian Liberation Organization was founded during this meeting on 2 June 1964. Today, Palestine is a full member of the Arab League and is represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization.

At the Beirut Summit on 28 March 2002, the league adopted the Arab Peace Initiative,[18] a Saudi-inspired peace plan for the Arab–Israeli conflict. The initiative offered full normalisation of the relations with Israel. In exchange, Israel was required to withdraw from all occupied territories, including the Golan Heights, to recognise Palestinian independence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as a "just solution" for the Palestinian refugees. The Peace Initiative was again endorsed at 2007 in the Riyadh Summit. In July 2007, the Arab League sent a mission, consisting of the Jordanian and Egyptian foreign ministers, to Israel to promote the initiative. Following Venezuela's move to expel Israeli diplomats amid the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict, Kuwaiti member of parliament Waleed al-Tabtabai proposed moving Arab League headquarters Caracas, Venezuela.[19]On 13 June 2010, Amr Mohammed Moussa, Secretary-General of the Arab League visited the Gaza Strip, the first by an official of the Arab League since the election of Hamas in 2007.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_League

[Stryker365]

Hosting the Arab Summit has never been about focusing the agenda on Iraq and its needs. It has been everything about how Iraq as host nation looks to its Arab bretheran....read...RV. The event should mark Iraq's "Comming Out" to the Arab world.

I agree Captjohn,

This is one reason we should think there could be a change....the optimal word could,

Quote; “Their decisions have changed nothing for Arab problems and they do not even care.”

JMO but what a good time if their going to make a change in the exchange rate...

Here is a reason the people think that way;

Another quote; The last Arab Summit held in Iraq was in May 1990. It was an emergency summit led by former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

One more quote; “We are used to the disappointing outcome of the Arab Summits since our early childhood,” said Abdulilah Khidr, a 57-year-old resident of Baghdad......see the only thing these people have to compare too is a Summit held by a Dictator....

Sorry it stopped letting me highlight once again....

[MiuraDude]

I am not clear about your question regarding Arab Spring. Can you expand, please.

The article makes reference to issues regarding Syria and the "Arab Spring". There is also a mention of "changes in the region due to the Arab Spring." Perhaps you can shed some light on this Carrello. By the way, love your posts.

[Carrello]

The article makes reference to issues regarding Syria and the "Arab Spring". There is also a mention of "changes in the region due to the Arab Spring." Perhaps you can shed some light on this Carrello. By the way, love your posts.

Thanks, MiuraDude. Are you saying you have not heard of "Arab Spring", or are just not aware of AS activities? We all have learning curves, don't we?

[DetroittoAZ]

I agree Captjohn,

This is one reason we should think there could be a change....the optimal word could,

Quote; “Their decisions have changed nothing for Arab problems and they do not even care.”

JMO but what a good time if their going to make a change in the exchange rate...

Here is a reason the people think that way;

Another quote; The last Arab Summit held in Iraq was in May 1990. It was an emergency summit led by former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

One more quote; “We are used to the disappointing outcome of the Arab Summits since our early childhood,” said Abdulilah Khidr, a 57-year-old resident of Baghdad......see the only thing these people have to compare too is a Summit held by a Dictator....

Sorry it stopped letting me highlight once again....