Secretary General’s opening speech 25th September 2010

Dear friends and Comrades,

This Middle East Regional Conference of W.P.C. jointly sponsored with AAPSO is an important event taking place at a critical moment in history.

As we all know that Middle East is the only region in the world which has not seen peace almost during the last one hundred years. Peace in this region is indispensable for the peace in the world. It is in this background. AAPSO agreed to the proposal made by W.P.C. to hold this conference.

World Peace Council is one of the oldest peace movements in the world. It was established in 1949 led by world renowned scientists such as Fedrick Juliot Curie, John Bernal J.B.S. Haldane and others. Subsequently an Indian prominent political leader Romech Chandra became the president of W.P.C.

Afro-Asian Peoples Solidarity Organisation was established in 1958 resulting from the Bandung conference in 1955, in Cairo in a well attended international conference. In this connection we recalled the enormous contribution made to the Afro-Asian Movement by the outstanding leaders of the time Jawharlal Nehru, Dr. Sokerno, Gamal Abdul Nassar and Kwame Nkrumah. The first General Secretary of AAPSO was Yusuf Sibai and after his assassination Abdul Rahman El Sharkawi became the president followed by Dr. Morad Ghaleb and Ahmad Hamrouch.

Ever since founding of World Peace Council and AAPSO, both the movements were closely cooperating each other in all activities. In fact many of the constituent national committees were simultaneously affiliated both to the WPC and AAPSO we both are closely linked. It is in keeping with this historical relationship and tradition, that AAPSO takes great pleasure in organising this very important regional conference in Cairo.

We have made every effort to make you comfortable during your stay in Cairo, and if any short coming we apologise and request kindly to bear with us.

The central issue of recurring tension in the Middle East is the denial of rights of the Palestinian to have their own state. This is a legitimate right recognized by the whole world. Unfortunately owing to the intransigence of Israel which is supported by the U.S. including military hardware; Palestinians continue to suffer in their own land. When the whole of Africa, Asia and Latin America achieved independence, the Palestinians remain the last territory under colonialism of a brutal power armed to teeth and threatening the entire region. It calls itself to be ‘democratic’, but‘ Israeli democracy’, is based on high-handedness and suppressing the legitimacy of Palestinians. It is the most irrational state in the world.

The Israeli and Palestinian sides differ not only on the issues of settlement, borders, Jerusalem, and refugees, but also on the negotiating styles and approach.

The continuation of building settlement in west bank and Jerusalem represent a big threat to the direct negotiation launched in the beginning of September 2010, as the Israelis insists on no renewal of freezing settlement after 26 September 2010.

This situation reveals the adamant attitude of the Israeli government, like a time bomb which can explode the negotiation, at any time. The Palestinian can’t continue in negotiation while the Israeli government continue building settlement in the west bank. So 26 September 2010 will be a critical test to the Israeli intensions towards the negotiation, and the peace process.
It is notable that Sharm El Sheikh round is the first round of actual direct negotiation, it is a playoff round as it take place before the deadline of the settlement on 26 September 2010.
It is to be mentioned here what distinguishes this negotiation is schedule for final agreement within one year as president Obama insisted on the importance of the Palestinian state to U.S. national security.

The Peace process in the Middle East can see the light under several condition such as:-
Ending the feud between Fatah and Hamas, is a necessary criteria in order to achieve peace.
Display of Sincerity of intentions between the Israeli and Palestinian parties in this direct talks has to be substantiated.
A comprehensive regional peace between Israel and the Arab as a whole are stipulated by The Arab Peace initiative.

Israel must accept that the principle of land for peace is the real foundation for peace to both sides including a just solutions to the issues as refugees, Jerusalem, borders and security. This is the only way to achieve peace.
And when we talk about the Middle East Nuclear free zone, free from the weapons of mass destruction, we are guided by the resolution - emanating from NPT review conference 2010 - on the establishment of a Middle East nuclear free zone and of all other weapons of mass destruction.

The nuclear weapons states committed in this conference to undertake further efforts to reduce all types of nuclear weapons and called for a conference on the establishment of a Middle East free zone of nuclear weapons in 2012.
The most significant point in this final declaration of 2010 NPT conference is that United States agreed calling on Israel to join NPT.

The UN, United states, Russia, UK call for regional conference in 2012 supposed to participate in it all countries in the region lead to establish free zone of nuclear weapons and all weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East Zone.
The conference reaffirm the importance of the non proliferation treaty, the necessity of its full implementation.

The conference affirmed the necessity of Israel to submit all its nuclear facilities under the comprehensive safeguards of International Atomic Energy Agency.
Arrogance and irritable Policy exercised by Israel on the International Community since its establishment, and especially in recent, made it as a burden not only on the international community but also on its allies.

One of the gravest problems in the Middle East is the frequent realignment of forces. This has further intensified with external interference. This is what we see in many countries in the Middle East. There is no country in the Middle East perhaps without conflicts. The western powers were more interested in the Middle East owing to the controlling of petroleum. But in future there is a possibility of these countries to fight for water. The rivers in the region crosses state boundaries. Therefore water resources certainly will be a bone of contention. Turkey, Syria and Iraq have their problems with Tigris and Euprates. River Nile flows through over 9 countries and there is already some element of tension.

As we all know, the Middle East is sitting on a “volcano” All the countries of the region are embroiled in conflict. These conflicts are intrinsically connected and often spread over to the neighbouring countries. The most tragic consequence of this situation was the U.S. invasion of Iraq. This has created more monsters than resolving any. The stalemate in forming a government even after six-months of holding election pauses danger to the country’s stability and smooth functioning.

Historically, the Arab World and the countries in the region have made enormous contribution to the civilization of the world. But these positive achievements have been destroyed by the imperialists conquests and continued rule by vested interest. There fore the peoples aspiration for a better governments has yet to be seen. Since we have representatives from almost all the countries in the region, it is there responsibility to work together by cooperating with all for a better tomorrow.

The above conflicts, contradiction, and rivalries, so long remain amicably not settled, Middle East cannot have stability and peace. Both the World Peace Council and AAPSO have a great responsibility to bring all the communities together. This is the historical responsibility of our movements. This regional conference no doubt will be a great step in this direction.

Thanking for your attention