Arab nations back fight against terrorism

One by one, Arab nations promised to co-operate in the fight against terrorism even Sudan and Libya, which are on the US list of nations sponsoring terrorism.

But the Arabs also had some demands for the international community: settle the Palestinian-Israeli conflict quickly, stop linking Islam and Muslims to terrorism, and tackle the root causes of poverty and injustice that breed terrorists.

After some 60 speeches during the first two days of a week-long General Assembly debate on international terrorism, there was virtual unanimity among the world’s nations that an international coalition was essential to tackle the problem, preferably under a United Nations umbrella.

It was also clear, particularly from the Arab speeches yesterday, that defining who is a terrorist remains a very contentious issue because one nation’s terrorist is often another’s freedom fighter.

The 22-member Arab Group, represented by Libya, called the Palestinians victims of ‘‘modern terrorism,’’ and stressed their right to fight for independence.

‘‘Occupation is equal to terrorism; in fact it is one of its ugliest forms,’’ the group said.

Libya’s UN Ambassador Abuzed Omar Dorda said Arab nations over many decades have also been victims of ‘‘state terrorism, occupation terrorism, and the terrorism practiced by extremist groups.’’ He accused the United States of committing terrorism against Libya with its airstrikes in 1986.

Saudi Arabia, Oman, Libya and Egypt all called for an international conference on terrorism, with a primary goal of defining terrorism a key step in tackling the problem.

Nonetheless, there was universal condemnation of the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania, and a determination to act at all levels to eradicate terrorism.

Most Arab states, however, were cautious, emphasising the importance of adopting ‘‘carefully studied measures.’’ But Oman’s Ambassador Fuad Bin Mubarak Al-Hinai expressed his government’s ‘‘complete solidarity with the United States,’’ the only Arab nation to use such strong language.

Diplomats from Yemen, Sudan, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as well as the Palestinian envoy, endorsed a Security Council resolution adopted on Friday night which requires all 189 UN member states to stop giving money, support or sanctuary to terrorists.

‘‘Sudan, matching its words with deeds, announces to all ... that its territory will never be a haven for terrorist groups,’’ Ambassador Elfatih Mohamed Ahmed told the General Assembly.

US Ambassador John Negroponte said he was pleased by ‘‘the overwhelming support’’ for the actions taken by the council and the assembly.

‘‘I think we see that momentum carrying forward into the General Assembly debate,’’ he said. ‘‘That’s very encouraging news and a good example of the solidarity of the international community on this issue.’’

Addressing the pre-eminent Arab concern, US President George Bush said for the first time that the idea of a Palestinian state is part of the Middle East peace process.

Nasser Al-Kidwa, the Palestinian UN envoy, said solving the Palestinian issue ‘‘in a just way’’ could end ‘‘the source of huge anger and despair in the region.’’

‘‘That in itself, if achieved, is not going to conclude the battle against international terrorism but it is a necessary condition to gain in the battle that the international community must wage in any case,’’ he said.

Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Shamshad Ahmad, whose government has pledged support for the US campaign against suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden in neighboring Afghanistan, said the international community must tackle the underlying causes that give rise to hatred and violence as well.

Terrorism, he said, is ‘‘fed by ignorance and poverty (and) will not disappear unless we build global harmony and stability through mutual tolerance and shared prosperity.’’

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Javad Zarif told the General Assembly his government ‘‘is fully prepared to contribute actively to a UN-led global campaign against terrorism.’’

But he said the response should focus ‘‘on the root causes of injustice and exclusion’’ not ‘‘indiscriminate retribution putting many innocent civilian lives at risk’’.

While Bush and other Western leaders have urged their citizens not to blame any religious or ethnic group for the September 11 attacks, many Arab nations said Muslims and Islam are being unjustly targeted and demanded that this practice end.