The best help is self help

When opening the 27th GCC summit in Riyadh on Saturday, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia warned delegates the region is on the "brink of explosion". King Abdullah was referring to the three main areas of concern Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon and the inability to resolve these problems.

Of course these areas are the ones that are causing the greatest conflicts in the region, the greatest loss of life, the greatest number of injuries so it is only right that the greatest attention should be given to determining ways to put an end to the violence, bloodshed and unrest. But what tends to happen is for Arab nations, especially those in the region, to look elsewhere for solutions, when it is obvious that only answers from within by those most affected will find a lasting solution. Imposed decisions by countries alien to the region are very likely to be unwelcome and unworkable due to a lack of understanding of the complexities involved.

If there is to be peace in the region, not only in Iraq, Lebanon or Palestine but also where controversies exist between brotherly nations, then it must be Arabs themselves who sit down and talk of ways out of any problems encountered. It bodes ill of finding answers if Arab nations are not prepared to discuss issues together and bring them to satisfactory conclusions. If Arab leaders are not ready to do so then they should not expect leaders of non-Arab nations to find the answers for them, and then complain if what is produced does not come up to expectations.

Some of the issues Arab nations face are not "home grown" as historically they were imposed by imperial powers. Surely that is good enough reason for Arabs to now find their own answers.