Arafat row overshadows summit successes

Iraq and Kuwait reached a ground-breaking agreement

By Gerald Butt Middle East analyst

As international meetings go, it was not one of the smoothest.

Because of this and the way the event was portrayed in the much of the Western media, there is a danger that the Arab summit in Beirut will be remembered for the wrong reasons - for the failure of certain key Arab leaders to attend, the row over Yasser Arafat's speech and so on.

The Arab world has laid out clearly for the first time its terms of reference for any future negotiations with the Jewish state

It is important, though, to focus on what was achieved. The peace initiative formulated by Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and now formerly endorsed by the whole Arab world opens a new chapter in the political book of the Middle East.

Whether the chapter ends with a comprehensive peace deal remains to be seen. But the significance of what was agreed on should not be underestimated.

By calling for "normal relations" with Israel in return for an end to the occupation of all Arab land, the Arab world has laid out clearly for the first time its terms of reference for any future negotiations with the Jewish state.

Prince Abdullah formulated the peace plan

Out of all the differing attitudes adopted by individual governments towards the Arab-Israeli issue has emerged a unified charter of principles.

While, on the face of it, there is no hope of Israel agreeing to a number of points in it - especially those relating to the future of Jerusalem and the fate of Palestinian refugees - there is at least a solid Arab position to build on.

Iraq and Kuwait

Equally significant at the Beirut summit was the first sign of a thaw in relations between Iraq and Kuwait.

Not only has Baghdad formerly announced that it recognises Kuwait's sovereignty, but it has also made other pledges relating to security and non-aggression.

Iraq is saying, in effect, that there will be no repeat of the 1990 invasion of Kuwait. While some observers will question Iraq's sincerity, the Arab Gulf states as a whole will have welcomed these first signs of a rapprochement between the two neighbours.

They will see the way clear now to develop still further relations with Baghdad, as a way of bringing Iraq back into the Arab fold and easing the plight of the Iraqi people.

Attack opposition

Not to be overlooked either among the summit results - in connection with Iraq - was a clear statement of opposition to any military attack on that country.

This clause could cause problems if, as expected, the US is planning to carry out a military attack because it raises the question of where the launch pad might be.

For the Arab world there will be some satisfaction that their leaders have finally come up with a formula for peace with Israel - even if peace itself seems as far away as ever

Having formally rejected the principle of such an attack, it would be very difficult for any Arab state to offer facilities to the US military.

So the Bush administration, having failed to drum up Arab support for a strike on Iraq in the past, is likely to have even more difficulty as a result of the Beirut summit.

So leaving aside the theatricals of the event itself, the summit declaration - not least the paragraphs on Iraq - will need careful reading by the US and its allies as they consider their policies towards the region as a whole in the months ahead.

For the Arab world there will be some satisfaction that their leaders have finally come up with a formula for peace with Israel - even if peace itself seems as far away as ever.