THE FIRST SOUTH AMERICAN - ARAB COUNTRIES
SUMMIT, 10-11 MAY 2005 IN BRASILIA, BRAZIL
South American and Arab leaders have opened their first summit in Brasilia to usher in a new wave of political and economic cooperation.
With 9000 soldiers posted around the Brazilian capital and military helicopters buzzing overhead, 15 heads of state and top officials from 34 South American, Middle Eastern and North African nations converged on Tuesday, 10th May for the first Summit of South American-Arab Countries.
"We are facing a historic opportunity to build the foundation for a bridge of solid cooperation between South America and the Arab world," Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said.
Pushing a policy goal he has pursued since becoming the first elected leftist leader of Latin America's largest country, Brazilian President Silva said, "We're seeking fair and just trade free of subsidies imposed by rich countries that ensures that poor countries receive the benefits of globalisation."
Brazil turned down a request by the US government for observer status, and Arab diplomats said Washington put pressure on them not to attend.
Observers say the talks aims to build ties as a counterweight to the US.
But the summit lost some if its lustre with the absence of leaders from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Libya and Syria. Even Lebanon's president was a no-show.
Among Arab leaders attending are Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika who will also represent the Arab League, Iraq's new President Jalal Talabani and Mahmud Abbas who succeeded Yasser Arafat last January as Palestinian leader.
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa had been hoping more leaders would attend, but said the presence of seven of the 22 Arab heads of state was a positive "gauge of the importance of the conference". (Eight of the 12 South American leaders were participating.)
Moussa denied speculation that the United States - which was refused permission to attend the summit as an observer - had pressured some leaders to boycott the event, which was to issue a declaration at odds with US policy on issues ranging from terrorism to Israel.
He, however, insisted the summit's main point is to strengthen regional ties.
"This summit in its idea, its initiative, is not directed against anyone," Moussa said.
Silva, however, singled out for criticism agricultural subsidies that the United States and Europe give their farmers, saying they must be slashed to ensure that "poor countries receive the benefits of globalisation".
"We want to take concrete and lasting steps in the struggle for development and social justice," Silva said.
The leaders were expected to endorse a "Declaration of Brasilia" on Wednesday, pledging to tighten political and economic links between the regions.
A draft declaration demands that Israel disband settlements in Palestinian territory, including "those in East Jerusalem" and retreat to its borders before the 1967 Arab-Israel war. It also lashes out at US economic sanctions against Syria.
In a separate ceremony during the day, officials approved an agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Mercosur, a key South American economic bloc, pledging negotiations for a free-trade area linking the two groups.
Mercosur's full-fledged members are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The GCC-members are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar.
The following 34 countries are participating in the Summit: Argentina, Algeria, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Ecuador, Guyana, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela and Yemen.
Summit Web site: http://www2.mre.gov.br/aspa/
