Sergei SHASHKOV – Independent analyst and researcher
The 22d Arab League summit took place in the town of Sirt in Libya in March of 2010. Then the heads of states and governments approved resolution №543 which says that starting from March of 2011 Iraq will take over presidency of the Arab League (AL) and that the organization's 23d summit will take place in Baghdad. The last time Iraqi capital hosted the Arab League summit was more than 20 years ago. And there is great difference between Iraq like it was in 1990 and the one we know today.
Even those member countries of the AL that follow advice from Washington, disapprove the occupation of Iraq. Many in the Arab world are aware that weak Iraq, left behind in terms of economic development and put on the brink of a civil war, is what Iran wants to see. And the U.S. and Israel want it even more. While Iraq brought to its knees is disgrace and a serious blow to the Arab nation.
Evidently, holding the Arab League summit in Iraq would be a plus for Washington for it would justify Operation Iraqi Freedom. However, Iraq as a venue for the Arab League summit evokes different, sometimes even polar opinions in the Arab world and in Iraq in particular.
Libya took a negative position on the issue. A high-ranking Libyan diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said in an interview with Ash-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper, that the situation in Baghdad did not meet requirements for a summit. “It is even hard to imagine that a summit might take place in Baghdad considering the current security situation…None of the Arab leaders will go there…Iraqi government should give up this idea and accept an invitation from Egypt – the LA has its headquarters in Cairo.”
Libyan leader Muammar Al Gaddafi travels with his own tent, and it is difficult to imagine the one that would protest hims from bullets, shells and mines. It is even more difficult to believe that his guards will trust Iraqi guarantees of security. Since March 23, 2003 the word 'security' has been somewhat ephemeral. By the way, it is planned to hold the AL summit exactly on the 23d of March, the day which marks the eighth anniversary since the US-led invasion of Iraq. Egypt was the most active supporter of the idea to hold the summit in Iraq.
On January 8, 2011 Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Mohammed Moussa (of Egypt) paid a brief visit to Baghdad. He met Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, and also addressed the parliament. “I think Iraq has turned over a new leaf in its political life. Tension has started to ease down…Iraq is a cornerstone of the Arab world and stability in the region”, he said. Mr. Zebari stressed that the AL summit in Baghdad would have a special meaning for Iraq as “it needs partners in the Arab world, and Arabs need Iraq”.
Not everyone in Iraq shares Mr. Moussa`s optimism. The most radical Islamic groups have warned that “anyone who comes to Iraq to attend the summit will become a target for attacks”. In an interview with Qatar-based Al Watan, a prominent Sunni religious leader and head of the Association of Islamic scholars Haris ad-Dari, called on Arab leaders to boycott the summit in Iraq. The withdrawal of US troops from Iraq he described as 're-dislocation' and said that about 50,000 of US officers and men will remain in Iraq. Officially, they will not take part in combat operations but only this month five US troops were killed in Iraq, including one in Baghdad and two outside the city At Taji.
As far as casualties in Iraqi army and police are concerned, last month 62 people were killed and 157 wounded. In all, 1020 troops died in 2010 in Iraq, almost three times more than in 2009.
Iraq has an alternative city where to host a summit. Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Barham Salih said he was ready to welcome participants of the AL meeting in Arbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.
In view of statements made by Kurdish leaders, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit`s visit to Iraq at the end of 2010 had a special meaning. Apart from Baghdad, the minister went to Abril, where he opened the AL consulate and discussed the forthcoming summit with Iraqi officials. Mr. Abul Gheit also announced plans of Egypt`s businessmen to invest in large-scale construction and industrial projects in Iraq.
Is there anyone who is not aware that all major Iraqi projects are approved not in Baghdad? As far as Iraqi coalition government is concerned, it was formed at the end of 2010 only thanks to Shia cleric Muktad al-Sadr, who at the very last moment called on his supporters to back Nouri al-Maliki as new Prime Minister.
By that time Muktad al-Sadr had been in Iran for more than three years studying theology in Qum. Many explained his decision to support US henchman by intention to prevent a large-scale military conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims. On January 6, 2011, al-Sadr came back to his native Nedjef, a holy town for all Shia, and said: “Iraqis must not kill Iraqis”. He added, however: “resistance is in our hearts”.
Muktad al-Sadr is a well-known pro-Iranian critic of US policies. Ambitious and young (he is in his thirties), he does not conceal his adherence to Sharia law, and his voice is heeded by hundreds of thousands of decisive and armed people. And stable political situation in Iraq is hardly possible without a dialog with them. Muktad al-Sadr has not yet commented on the AL summit in Iraq, but in case he is against it, chances will be high for the meeting to take place in Arbil.
National unity is said to be key issue on the agenda. This is not actually a new topic to discuss but it has taken on special meaning recently amid violent protests in Tunisia and Egypt, escalation of tensions in Algeria and Libya, and another crisis in Lebanon and scandal over leaked details of talks between Fatah and Israel. Position of the Palestinian leader, whose term in office de jure expired more than a year ago, has never been as fragile as today. And what is common between all these events is that Islamists are getting stronger.
The Arab League summit in Iraq resembles more a kind of a surrealistic scenario: when hundreds of thousands of protesters take to the streets in different Arab towns, ready to topple ruling leaders, debates on 'unity of Arab nation' taking place in devastated country may become an indicator of Arabic ummah.
