Azerbaijan, Baku, 10 November/ Trend , U. Sadigova/ Interview of Amr Moussa, Secretary General of League of Arab States with Near East Department of Trend
Question: Despite long efforts, Israel and Palestine are still failure to find a long awaited solution to the dispute over 50 years. Could the league of Arab states offer any concrete plan to achieve a resolution to the Israel- Palestine conflict in the near future?
Answer: The Arab league has been continually making efforts to solve the Palestine problem. The Arab league adopted the Arab initiative at the Beirut Arab summit in 2002. It is very concrete and very comprehensive. For full normalization with all the Arab countries Israel has to withdraw from all the occupied Palestine and Arab territories.
Question: Many international organizations are involved in the settlement of Darfur crisis, offering different ways of solution. Which plans does league of Arab states propose to solve the Darfur crisis?
Answer: The Arab league is very active in the Darfur crisis. From the beginning, the Arab league was there coordinating with the united nation and the African union. The Sudanese government accepted the Arab league plan to resolve the crisis. The plan has three elements: 1. The establishment of national courts to try the suspects. 2. The appointment of a prosecutor. 3. The introduction of amendment to the Sudanese criminal code to be compatible with international norms of justice. The secretary general has visited Sudan several times to for a resolution. Right now a high-level committee from the Arab league is actively engaged together with the African union in reconciliation effort.
Question: Lebanon and Syria could restore the bilateral relation after three years and they did it by themselves. With the league of Arab states contribute to expanding relations between Syria and Lebanon?
Answer: At the Arab summit in Syria in April this year, the secretary was given a mandate improve inter-Arab relations. The Arab league was instrumentals in efforts to resolve the Lebanese problem with all its complications. These efforts were crowned with the Doha Agreement, a large part of which has been already implemented. A president was elected, a cabinet was formed and a national reconciliation dialogue is full saving. The recent agreement to exchange ambassador between Syria and Lebanon is a welcome development.
Question: Presently, the Middle East quartet, which is mostly involved in the solution of problems of the region, is regarded to be an active organization in the international area, how could you describe the cooperation between league of Arab states and the Middle East quartet in finding solution to these problems?
Answer: The Arab league is very active in this area. The secretary general is on constant touch with members of the quartet to make sure that the Arab perspective is represented closely coordinating with the Palestine leader.
Question: Qatar, Iran and Russia decided to establish the Gas OPEC. What do you think about the future role of this organization in the international area and how will it affect gas prices?
Answer: We think it is a welcome step to protect the interests of these countries. They are major gas producer and with current energy crisis these countries should coordinate with each other.
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