UAE: Zayed urges Arabs to stand united

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

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

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt, Feb 27 2003 (IPS) - United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is hopeful that the forthcoming conference of Arab heads of state will be a summit of solidarity for all Arabs, Foreign Minister Rashid Abdullah said on arrival here today to attend the Arab Foreign Ministers’ meeting to be held later in the day.

"We have had enough of interpretative judgments and disagreements, especially over formal issues. Now is the time for Arabs to join hands in the face of dangers, whether the issue is Iraq, Palestine or Arab solidarity and Arab joint action," Abdullah said in a statement.

He added, "We no longer feel the warmth of solidarity among the Arabs as we used to in the past."

The Foreign Ministerial meeting is to be held in preparation for the 3rd plenary Arab Summit conference scheduled for Saturday in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheikh.