Dina Ezzat takes a closer look at the current state of the debate on the Arab League and its secretary-general The blame game Speculation is rife about the endgame of the Kuwaiti campaign against the Arab League's secretary-general "We are going to get rid of him. Within six months Amr Moussa will not be the secretary-general of the Arab League. Mark my words. We do not want him and you have no idea what Kuwait could do." With these words, an informed Kuwaiti source who is close to the Kuwaiti government, explained the endgame of a tough media campaign carried out by the Kuwaiti press against Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa. Speaking to Al-Ahram Weekly from Kuwait, the source said that leading Kuwaiti officials are now "working on this matter and are talking to Arab states about it". She added that "the Kuwaiti campaign will intensify. It will also be backed by American complaints about Moussa. Americans do not like Moussa. They never liked him as a foreign minister and they believe he is [opposing them ]." In two weeks, Moussa will have completed two of his first five-year term as secretary-general of the pan-Arab organisation. Moussa, Egypt's astute and popular foreign minister throughout the 1990s, was elected to the job with the support of all 22 member states of the Arab League during the Amman Summit in 2001. At the time, Kuwait had failed to lobby enough Arab states to extend the second term of former Arab League Secretary- General Esmat Abdel-Meguid. They reluctantly expressed support for Moussa but voiced concern, mostly behind closed doors. In particular, they were not happy that Moussa would not adopt the declared Kuwaiti policy of maintaining sanctions on Iraq in order to weaken the Saddam Hussein regime. "He knew all along that he should not have opposed the war. He opposed it. He went to Iraq and to the UN and did everything he could to stop the war. He should not have done this. He should have known better," the Kuwaiti source added. Informed sources argue that Kuwait has suggested to several key Arab capitals, including Cairo, that the time has come for a new secretary-general for the Arab League. The Kuwaiti offer, according to these sources, included coupling the replacement of Moussa with a handsome Kuwaiti donation to the coffers of the Arab League. Some argue that the Kuwaitis are offering to donate up to $20 million to the league and commit to regularly pay its annual allocations and that of Iraq to the secretariat of the league. According to one source, many Arab capitals, including Cairo, are aware that giving a stamp of approval to the plan would put them in a very embarrassing light before Arab public opinion. "They know that Moussa enjoys significant popularity," one informed Egyptian source said. "They also know that even if Moussa decides to resign, as he has indicated to some quarters, it will put them at odds with public opinion which feels that Moussa is resigning because he had no support from Arab governments," the Egyptian source said. According to this same source, Egypt may find it difficult to replace Moussa since he was the Egyptian foreign minister for 10 years. Cairo also realises that several other Arab capitals are already unhappy that Egypt has been monopolising the post of the secretary-general of the league. "When it was decided by Arab countries that Abdel-Meguid would not get an extended term in 2000, Egypt had to nominate Moussa because several Arab capitals had indicated reluctance to accept just any Egyptian candidate." He added, "The names that were proposed in 2000, before the nomination of Moussa, did not get much support. These are the same names that Egypt might have to consider if it accepts the Kuwaiti argument." Sources suggest that several Kuwaiti diplomats have already approached some Egyptian figures to consider accepting nomination as Moussa's replacement. One top Egyptian official is reported to have turned down the offer without thinking twice. "He said it would be a grave insult for him and would be a big blow to his public image to come as a substitute for Moussa. He does not accept to be manipulated this way," commented one insider. An Egyptian cabinet minister, whose name was circulated but turned down by several Arab capitals in 2000, is said to be keeping an open mind. Another Egyptian official is said to be keeping an open eye. "We do not mind anyone being the next secretary-general as long as Moussa gets out. Egypt can have another Egyptian or any other country can send a nominee. As a matter of fact we do not care very much about the Arab League since we have no real interest in the entire Arab world. We knew that when our country was invaded by the Saddam Hussein regime in 1990, it was the Americans and no one else that helped us restore our country," a Kuwaiti source said. According to this source, "Once Moussa is out of the Arab League, all Arab capitals such as Damascus and Beirut, that like to preach about Arab nationalism and criticise Kuwait for its role in the US war to liberate Iraq would know that they need to adjust their stance or face the wrath of the US." He added, "Kuwait is not only going to teach Moussa a lesson but would also adopt a clear stance against those journalists who wrote in his defense. They would be thrown out of their papers." News of the Kuwaiti plan to intensify their campaign against Moussa were categorically denied by the Kuwaiti permanent representative to the Arab League. In a telephone interview with the Weekly, Ambassador Ahmed Al-Kolieb insisted that these stories "are merely unhealthy fabrications by people who like to claim that they know everything that is going on. This is not true. Kuwait might have some reservations about some procedural measures that were taken by the secretary-general or even the secretariat of the Arab League but this is not at all about Amr Moussa to whom we have so much respect". Al-Koleib insisted that this is not the time for Kuwait, the secretary-general or anybody in the Arab world to think of fights. It is instead a time to deal with the bigger challenges facing the Arab world. "This should also mean that this is the time for us all to be frank. If Kuwait feels that certain decisions or steps taken by the secretary-general were offensive or if the secretary-general feels that certain moves taken by Kuwait were offensive we have to be frank and discuss these issues." Al-Koleib declined to give details of what may have upset Kuwait. "I think that the media needs to stay out [of this issue]. This whole crisis is primarily media made. We will deal with all the issues in frank conversations but not through TV channels or newspapers." He added that keeping this whole matter away from the media is the best way to deny "those who are trying to aggravate relations between Kuwait and the secretary-general". Al-Koleib suggested that Kuwait would welcome Moussa to visit soon and have "a brotherly discussion to clear all matters". "We have a lot of respect for the secretary-general and we also have a major commitment to the Arab cause." Similar views were echoed by other Arab ambassadors in Cairo who said they knew nothing of the rumours that Moussa would be replaced. "I have heard nothing about this matter. Nothing," said one Arab ambassador who asked that his name be withheld. Another Arab ambassador said that he is aware of the Kuwaiti "sensitivity" towards Moussa but he would be surprised if things went that far. "My country has not suggested anything about Kuwaiti plans in regards to Moussa -- and I am not going to comment on speculation by people who claim they are close to the Kuwaiti government." Arab League sources also said they are not aware of such plans. "The situation is not like that. The Kuwaitis had a problem with the Saddam Hussein regime. They misconstrued Moussa's efforts to prevent the war against Iraq as a stance in support of Saddam Hussein. Let us not blow things out of proportion here. Kuwaiti officials have repeatedly indicated that they have nothing against Secretary-General Moussa. The secretary-general has also repeatedly expressed understanding of the Kuwaiti sensitivity regarding Iraq in light of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait," one Arab League source said. He added, "This is a problem that could have been easily contained if it had not been for the media." For his part, Moussa has declined to make any comments. In response to questions from reporters on Tuesday, Moussa admitted that there is a disagreement with some quarters in Kuwait but refused to go into details about how serious the problem was. The dispute between Moussa and Kuwait goes back to January 2002 when the secretary-general of the Arab League visited Baghdad. During the trip Moussa hoped to convince the Iraqi regime to resume cooperation with the UN on all suspended files, including those relating to UN inspection of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programme. He also hoped to assist the UN effort to unveil the destiny of the Kuwaiti POWs that were detained by Iraq during its invasion of Kuwait in 1990. In addition, other attempts and positions taken by Moussa to peacefully settle the Iraqi crisis were subject to much scorn from the Kuwaiti media. Also vocal in expressing dissatisfaction with the Moussa efforts on the Iraqi dossier was Speaker of the Kuwaiti Parliament Jassim Al-Khorafi. During the past 15 months this dispute has had its share of ups and downs. In the months leading to the war against Iraq, resolutions opposing Arab facilitation of the war or the continued US occupation of Iraq has subjected Moussa along with several Arab foreign ministers, such as the Syrian and Lebanese ministers to major criticism from many Kuwaiti circles. The Arab League secretary-general has generally kept his poise. Recently, however, in the wake of a very harsh Kuwaiti media campaign Moussa chose to speak out. In an interview with Egyptian TV, Moussa stressed that his attempt to prevent war against Iraq was not meant to support the Iraqi regime. Instead he wished to bring to effect the clearly defined Arab stance taken in two consecutive Arab summits opposing war and the occupation of Iraq. Moussa insisted he would either do his job honourably or he would leave. This stance prompted several Arab capitals to express a strong vote of confidence to Moussa's efforts. Subsequently, in a clear sign of support, President Mubarak made statements in support of the Arab League and its efforts. This week, however, speculation was rife again. While criticism from the Kuwaiti press has somewhat abated, statements made by Kuwaiti Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Ahmed Al-Sabbah after a recent meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak prompted many questions about the endgame of the Kuwait campaign against Moussa. Speaking in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, Al-Sabbah sent mixed signals. On the one hand he asserted that ther is no crisis between Kuwait and Moussa but, on the other hand, made emphatic anti-Moussa insinuations. Al- Sabbah said that Moussa was "a brother and friend". He also said that the dispute between him and Kuwait was blown out of proportion. However, the Kuwaiti official indicated Moussa was not worth being made the issue. Al-Sabbah also denied news reports about Egyptian mediation to contain the Kuwaiti-Moussa dispute "since Moussa is just an ordinary person". It is not clear exactly how this matter will end. Some Arab diplomats argue that the time has come for an Egyptian mediation. "Egypt is not just the country that nominated its foreign minister but it is also the leading Arab state. Egypt should contain the matter," said one Cairo-based Arab diplomat. Other Arab diplomats argue that the current problem is not about Moussa and Kuwait but rather about who is in charge in the Arab world: Egypt or Kuwait. "It would be a big blow to Egypt to succumb to the Kuwaiti will," commented one Arab diplomat. But many Arab diplomats believe the problem here is about Iraq. They argue that there was no Arab consensus about what to do with Iraq especially since some states wanted to facilitate the war against Iraq but did not want to be criticised by public opinion strongly opposed to the Anglo-American aggression. Hisham Youssef, official spokesman for the secretary-general of the Arab League said: "We should have the courage to face our problems rather than taking the easy route of finding scapegoats to cover for our weakness." He added, "The current Arab situation needs to be rectified and what we have to do is to take the necessary steps in this direction rather than playing the blame game."
