Arab foreign ministers started here today a three-day meeting to find common ground on issues including the Palestinian-Israeli stalemate, the Iraq situation and a regional political reform package proposed by the United States.
"The latest developments in the region have increased the challenge and the need to find an Arab position at ministerial level that answers all the questions posed and satisfies Arab demands as a prelude to taking these matters to Arab heads of state," Lebanese Foreign Minister Jean Obeid said on arriving in Cairo late Friday. Still, Obeid said he was optimistic that the challenge would be met because of the contacts among Arab governments in the past five weeks.
On the matter of Arab world democratic reforms, Obeid said "Arab reform should come from inside and not be imposed on us. It must fit in with our interests, values, customs and heritage," he said.
