Amman, Jordan — Arab foreign ministers tried Sunday to persuade Iraq and Kuwait to agree to a compromise formula to patch over their dispute, which has long divided the Arab world, ahead of a key summit this week.
But the ministers were unable to reach a deal on the divisive issue of Iraq by the time formal meetings ended Sunday night. If further talks can't resolve the dispute, Arab heads of state will have to tackle it when they gather Tuesday.
The summit aims at reviving the regular gatherings of Arab League leaders that have been disrupted since the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. But divisions are sharp over what stance the league should take on U.N. sanctions against Iraq with Iraq pressing Arab leaders to call for their immediate lifting, a stance opposed by Kuwait.
The summit in the Jordanian capital convenes amid pressure from the Arab public that leaders address months of Israeli-Palestinian violence that has killed more than 430 people. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi arrived Sunday evening to attend the summit.
Under a draft statement being prepared by the ministers for the leaders' approval, Arab leaders would underline their support for the Palestinians and condemn what they call the continuous Israeli aggression, coercion and siege of the Palestinian territories.
Jordanian Prime Minister Abdul-Illah Khatib said the foreign ministers urged the U.N. Security Council to provide international protection in light of "oppressive Israeli measures and the tyrant siege" against the Palestinians.
The Iraq-Kuwait debate at the ministers' meeting stirred up intense feelings and forced long hours of diplomatic shuttling between the two sides to find common ground.
Khatib said the entire draft final statement for the summit had been decided except the Iraq issue, on which consultations would continue. "We are trying to reach a balanced text that will take into consideration the different concerns of each side," he said.
"It will be settled. We still have time," said Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa.
Baghdad wanted the summit to demand a lifting of U.N. sanctions and a "negation" of the no-fly zones over its territory enforced by U.S. and British planes including some based in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Persian Gulf.
Kuwait opposed those measures and wanted a full Iraqi apology for the 1990 invasion and Arab reassurances it would not happen again demands that Iraq's foreign minister refused, according to Arab diplomats.
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