IRAQ: Doha Islamic Summit was rhetorical, say UAE dailies

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Att.Editors: The following item is by the United Arab Emirates news agency (WAM)

ABU DHABI, Mar 6 2003 (IPS) - United Arab Emirates (UAE) newspapers today commented on the outcome of the summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which yesterday concluded its activities in Doha, capital of Qatar.

Commenting editorially on the issue, the Abu Dhabi-based ‘Al Ittihad’ said: – The Islamic Summit in Doha has not come out with alternative resolutions different from that of Sharm El Sheikh. Its resolutions were a duplicate of that of Sharm El Sheikh.

ôIt was the same normal scenario, opening speech, rhetorical statements, heated discussions between Iraqi and Kuwaiti delegates, adjournment of the session and thereafter resumption of session and release of communiqué.

ôAppending a new text on Palestine was the only new thing in the communiqué.

ôThe Islamic Conference in Doha categorically rejected aggression on Iraq and called on the member states of the OIC to refrain from participating in the aggression.

ôIt has also underlined its complete refusal to any plans to change the present geographical structure of the region, a much needed stand to voice the Arab and Islamic opinion to the world with regard to the Iraqi issue.

ôHowever, it was unfortunate that these stances were not coupled with clear steps to make them practical, nor did it propose or discuss any initiatives or ideas aimed at sparing the Iraqi people from potential war plans.

ôIt is evident that Doha Summit proceeded on the same lines of previous Arab and Islamic conferences, which issued several rhetorical statements, without presenting a solution to the intricate problems facing the Arab and the Islamic nation, the paper concluded.

The Islamic world spoke out yesterday against war in Iraq, as the OIC welcomed the increased Iraqi cooperation with the UN weapons inspectors and the OIC has strongly supported the idea that the inspections should continue and that they are doing valuable work, said the Dubai-based ‘Gulf News’.

The OIC rejected any strike against Iraq and urged Islamic countries to abstain from participating in military action against Iraq or any other Islamic nation, the paper pointed out.

It would clearly be much the better course if a peaceful solution were to be found. The UAE put forward a plan at the Arab League summit in Sharm El Sheikh that Saddam should step down and go into exile, and an interim government would run Iraq, the paper said

This possible route to a peaceful way out of the crisis was favored by most Gulf countries, although the OIC failed to discuss it formally at yesterday’s meeting, the paper added.

The next few days are vital to achieve any progress in the search for a peaceful way forward. US and other military forces are in place, and the war can start at any minute, the paper noted.

If an alternative route is found, it needs to be offered to the Iraqis as soon as possible. It needs to be promoted hard. The attempt to avoid bloodshed is always worthwhile, and is important to support, even at this late hour, the paper concluded.