Summit to discuss Abdullah initiative

Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia has outlined a broad vision to modernise and invigorate the Arab world by increasing political participation, encouraging economic integration and guaranteeing mutual security at a time of growing U.S. pressure for reforms.

Abdullah's proposed 'Charter to Reform the Arab Position', to be submitted to the Arab summit conference in Bahrain in March, calls on regional leaders to end "the silence that has gone on for too long" about the "explosive situation in this area," evidently a reference to social, economic and political stagnation that has fueled discontent and contributed to the rise of radicalism in the Arab world and beyond.

"This apparent paralysis and lack of recourse," adds the declaration circulating among Arab governments, "has provided the opportunity to some to attack and undermine legitimate Arab interests and rights."

Last year he put forth a peace plan aimed at resolving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in line with the longstanding proposal for the creation of a Palestinian state in exchange for Arab countries' recognition of and diplomatic relations with Israel.

Saudi Arabia has come under sharp criticism in the U.S. since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, for its allegedly closed political system and its treatment of women.

Saudi officials and analysts said such an assessment misses the significance of Abdullah's initiative, which they hope will begin a self-critical dialogue that has largely been absent in the Arab world.

While vague in its particulars and uncertain in its prospects, the new call for internal reform by one of the Arab world's most influential figures amounts to another significant step in the post-September 11 era.

Some Bush administration officials have talked about using the war on terrorism and the possible war against Iraq to reshape the Arab world in a way that, they say, would increase stability and make peace with Israel more likely.

Abdullah's initiative, although a recognition that change is overdue, appears to be an attempt to pre-empt interference from the outside.

The proposal has been accompanied by a flurry of Saudi and other Arab diplomacy designed to head off a U.S. invasion of Iraq to topple Saddam Hussain.

Abdullah last weekend urged Washington to give Iraq's neighbours more time to resolve the matter themselves and expressed doubt that a war would take place.

Middle Eastern leaders have crisscrossed the region in recent days warning of the potential for disaster and urging Saddam to acquiesce and meet international demands that he rid Iraq of programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction.

Analysts and diplomats said the peace initiatives demonstrated a desire by regional leaders not to be seen as endorsing U.S. military action, but they predicted it would not yield tangible results.

While Abdullah has attracted attention because of his call for peace, the resolution he has circulated does not mention Iraq. It says only that the region should oppose "any external and non-legitimate aggression against any Arab state", reiterating past positions taken by the Arab League.

The Saudi proposal lays out a view of a more progressive Arab world capable of meeting the challenges of globalisation and developing technology and communication.

"The Arab heads of state," it says, "decide that internal reform and enhanced political participation in the Arab states are essential steps for the building of Arab capabilities, and for providing the conditions for a comprehensive awakening and development of Arab human resources."

Among other things, it proposes that Arab countries "boost our defence capabilities" and pledge to "stand united against any Arab state guilty of aggression of another Arab state."

Complaining that Arab economic cooperation "lacks conviction and credibility," it recommends an Arab free-trade zone by 2005 and a tariffs union by 2010 to create a "Common Arab Market."

While promoting private enterprise and free-market principles, the charter avoids specifics and does not spell out what it means by "enhanced political participation" or use the word "democracy."