ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN MINISTERS STATEMENT ON ARAB

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 001176 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MEPN KPAL ARABL EG IS SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN MINISTERS STATEMENT ON ARAB PEACE INITIATIVE REF: CAIRO 1162 (NOTAL) ¶1. (U) Foreign ministers of the Arab League's committee assigned to follow up on the League's Arab Peace Initiative (API) -- or Beirut 2002 Initiative -- met in Cairo on April 18 to determine the manner in which the League will seek to market the API with Israel and the international community. A formal communique was produced by the 14-member committee following their lengthy deliberations. The text of their communique is located at paragraph two. Reftel provides a more nuanced readout of the meeting provided by AL Secretary General Moussa's Chief of Staff. ¶2. (U) Text of Arab League's April 18 Communique (unofficial Embassy translation): Begin text: Meeting of the Ministerial Committee on the Arab Peace Initiative Cairo, April 18, 2007 In follow up to the implementation of the Riyadh Summit resolution to reactivate the Arab Peace Initiative, the concerned ministerial committee responsible for the initiative held a meeting today, chaired by the Saudi Foreign Minister, and attended by foreign ministers of state members of the committee, along with the Arab League Secretary General. They discussed Arab diplomatic and political steps during the coming period and goals for the committee to achieve with regards to consultations and contacts with the UN Secretary General, members of the UN Security Council, the international Quartet, and concerned parties in the peace process to mobilize support for this initiative and to reactivate the peace process. After the committee reviewed efforts exerted to activate the peace process and evaluate its developments in the light of new occurrences towards the Arab Peace Initiative, the committee adopted the following: First: Formation of a Working Team: Forming an Arab Ministerial delegation including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Palestine, Qatar, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, and the AL Secretary General to offer the Arab point of view on means to implement the Initiative and to consult on means to resume the peace process on all fronts and achieving peaceful settlement within a determined time frame, and preparing a chain of collateral or one-on-one meetings with the UNSG, SC Members, International Quartet, European Union, European Parliament, African Union, Organization of American States, Organization of Islamic Conferences, Non-Aligned Movement, Japan, Norway, and other concerned countries and international and regional organizations. The delegation should commence its duties and contacts as soon as possible. In implementation of AL Riyadh Summit number 367, Egypt and Jordan (the two Arab States that regained their lands),are to exert efforts to reactivate the Arab Peace Initiative and facilitate the commencement of direct negotiations (with Israel); this is in accordance with paragraph 2 of the relevant summit resolution which once again calls upon the Israeli Government and all Israelis to accept the Arab Peace Initiative and make use of the chance to resume direct and serious negotiations on all fronts. At the time when Israel should halt its practices in the Occupied Territories, especially lifting of the blockade on the Palestinian people, halting the establishment of settlements, building its wall, conducting excavations in Jerusalem, in addition to a return to the status quo ante on September 28, 2000, an expanded work team will be formed to conduct contacts with the Israeli Government and to consult on means of achieving peaceful settlement in accordance with a specific time frame. The work team will present a report of its efforts to the AL Secretary General along with proposals for the Arab League's SIPDIS Peace Initiative Committee. Second: Political Framework for the Working Team: -- Assures the Arab States intentions to reach a comprehensive and fair peace and end the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and the principals and basis upon which it is established; -- Assures the commitment of Arab States to the Arab Peace CAIRO 00001176 002 OF 002 Initiative which calls for a fair settlement and peace with Israel, based on international legitimate resolutions and principals contained in relevant UN resolutions, Madrid Conference references, the principal of land-for-peace and not allowing the acquisition of land by force, Roadmap, and signed agreements and understandings between concerned parties; -- Calls upon the Israeli Government and all Israelis to accept the Arab Peace Initiative and making use of the chance to resume direct and serious negotiations on all fronts to achieve a peaceful settlement in accordance to a specific time frame; -- Assures that the Arab commitment to achieve a fair and comprehensive peace to the Arab-Israeli conflict and the establishment of normal relations with Israel within that framework, require a parallel commitment by the Israeli Government to achieve that peace and take the necessary procedures to build trust and start serious negotiations on all fronts, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and agreed international terms of references related to the peace process and to build upon what has been achieved thus far; Third: Calls for the holding of an international meeting with the participation of regional and international concerned parties, to be sponsored by the UN and the international Quartet to launch direct negotiations on all fronts in accordance with agreed-upon terms of references, with a time frame to achieve it. Fourth: Calls upon the AL Secretariat to propose to the Arab Peace Initiative Committee a list of activities to directly address decision makers at universities, institutions, research centers, media, and political associations which influence decision-making at the regional and the international level, to promote the Arab Peace Initiative and explain the Arab point of view in order to revive the peace process on all fronts. Arab states are to provide the necessary financing (for this effort). Fifth: Calls upon the AL Secretary General to coordinate these efforts by consulting with the Committee,s Presidency and preparing reports for the Committee,s next meeting, to evaluate the situation and make proposals for the League,s planned emergency ministerial meeting planned for the first half of June 2007. End text. RICCIARDONE