Peace plan with Israel tops Riyadh summit agenda

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Source: CCTV.com | 03-29-2007 10:19

A two-day Arab League Summit has opened in Saudi Arabia. The most pressing issue on the agenda is a plan for peace with Israel, launched by Saudi Arabia in 2002, and the establishment of a Palestinian state.

During the meeting, leaders from the Arab world discussed the land-for-peace plan with Israel, which was proposed by Saudi Arabia's king Abdullah in the 2002 Beirut Arab Summit.

Arab leaders have urged Israel to accept the peace plan rather than ask for changes.

That plan offers the Jewish state normal ties with all Arab countries if it fully withdraws from land it occupied in 1967.

It also says Israel must accept a Palestinian state and agree to a "just solution" for Palestinian refugees.

Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabian King, said, "The end of the unjust siege imposed on the Palestinians is an imperative. This must happen within the closest opportunity, in order to allow for the peace process to restart. This should not be tainted by hatred and imposition, and should be in a manner that would allow it to succeed in fulfilling its goal of establishing the Palestinian state."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon attended the summit, saying international stability depended on the stability of the Middle East.

Ban Ki-moon said, "Instability in the Arab League states is of profound significance for international peace and security. I am here with you today, in the early days of my tenure to pledge my support and that of the United Nations for peace, justice and the well-being of your peoples."

Also on the summit's agenda were Sudan's war-torn Darfur region, and tensions in Lebanon.

On Iraq, the summit is expected to push the Shiite Muslim-led Iraqi government to include more Sunni Arabs.

Editor:Du Xiaodan