Half the Class Missing at Arab League Summit

[Analysis]Though a full turnout is a rarity, the fact that only half of the member states of the Arab League chose to send their heads of states to the Arab League Summit in Beirut is a clear sign of the internal divisions in the Arab world.

 

Many observers say that meetings of the 22 member states usually are more about a lavish display of Arab unity than actual political discussion, so the rank of the each country’s representative is very significant.

 

Among the members that did not send heads of state are the important American allies Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain. Another country that is missing is Lebanon, which has been entangled in a political standoff among various internal political factions since the parliament failed to elect a new president at the end of last year.

 

The political deadlock in Lebanon is symbolic of the divisions in the region as the government of Fuad Siniora is backed by the U.S., Egypt and Sunni Saudi Arabia. The opposition, led by Hizbullah, is backed by Syria and the Shi’ite Iran.

 

In his opening remarks at the summit, secretary general of the Arab League, ‘Amru Mousa, stressed that the stability of the region was dependent on the solution of the situation in Lebanon.

 

While Iran is not a member of the Arab League, its foreign minister,Manouchehr Mottaki, was invited as an observer.  

 

Iraq has previously been represented by its president, Jalal Talabani, who happens to be a Kurd, not an Arab, but this time Baghdad decided to send a lower-ranking diplomat.

 

Other countries that are missing are Morocco, Oman, Yemen and Comoros.