Review of the Arab press

AMMAN, Jordan, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Arab press roundup for Oct. 5:

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The Jordan Times Wednesday welcomed a European Union decision to start negotiations with Turkey for a full EU membership as a "breakthrough for both Turkey and Europe." The English-language daily said in its editorial that while some European countries were reluctant to give Ankara membership "for fear that a large Muslim nation such as Turkey would threaten European resources," the larger European majority interpreted its membership as an asset for Europe. The paper, partially owned by the Jordanian government, commented that although Turkey "still has a long way to go before it attains EU membership" with a target date in 2014, it has "made great strides in meeting the EU conditions by amending its basic legislation on democracy and human rights," as well as improving its human rights record on the ground. It opined that "secular Muslim Turkey" was expected to contribute substantially to the "advancement of Europe's socio-economic wealth" and could play a key role in security peace and stability in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The daily said: "The EU has made a good decision."

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The London-based al-Quds al-Arabi said the Turkish government has achieved a "great diplomatic victory" when it "forced Europe to submit to its conditions" to launch negotiations for its membership in the EU. The independent Palestinian-owned daily said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was "clever" when he gave Europe two choices: To continue as a "closed Christian club," or to turn into a "global power with multiple cultures and religions." It predicted the EU will be strengthened with Turkey's membership, not only because of its high population of 70 million, but also because of its large geographic area and the role it was expected to play as a bridge between east and west, Islam and Christianity and between "moderation and extremism." The paper, distributed in most Arab capitals, added the world was no longer based on "closed political clubs," citing the United States as an example of power because of having united 50 states in one nation with cultural and religious diversity. It insisted that Turkey would have been pushed towards extremism if it was rejected in the EU, adding that Europe was "buying its security and safety" by allowing the country in the regional union.

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Another London-based daily, al-Hayat, said an Arab decision to dispatch Arab League Secretary-General Amr Mousa to Iraq to prepare for a national reconciliation conference was a very important step. The Saudi-financed paper, which described Mousa as a "seasoned political Arab diplomat," said he was undoubtedly aware of the difficult task ahead of him. It said Mousa's success in organizing a reconciliation conference in Iraq before voting on its new constitution was a priority because the charter, as it stands, was a cause for divisions, not consensus, "since it excludes a basic portion of Iraqi society," the Arab Sunnis. The paper argued that if the constitution remained as it is, it would push Iraq towards more turbulence; therefore, it was important to reach an Iraqi reconciliation as quickly as possible. "The danger with constitutions that divide the people instead of uniting them is that, sooner or later, they will lead to political problems and divisions that are more serious and greater than they are today," the paper opined. It warned that if the charter is endorsed as it is, which it predicted would happen, it would be "very difficult" to amend it in the future. The daily said that was "why it is very important to hold a reconciliation conference before it is too late." It added it hoped the Arab initiative and Mousa's task would succeed in order to avoid the disintegration of this Arab country.

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Bahrain's Akhbar al-Khaleej asked in a commentary how democracy can become a reality with the presence of sectarianism in a country like Iraq where the government includes "extremist sectarian elements." The pro-government daily argued that Washington, which it said was well aware of the chaos in Iraq and refuses to interfere in ending it, would not be able to succeed in introducing democracy in Iraq or the region with this ongoing anarchy. It warned that if Washington's vision in Iraq was that "chaos will produce organization," it would have "terrible consequences" in the entire Middle East. It said it sensed these consequences in the Iraqi interior minister's comments that blasted Saudi Arabia because the latter rejects the Iranian influence in Iraq. "So the minister became an official spokesman for Iran, not Iraq," the paper said. In addition, the Bahraini paper went on, Iran has started to use the Iraqi arena to settle its scores with the United States, Britain and the European Union over differences on Iran's nuclear program. It insisted that whenever the Western rhetoric against Iran's nuclear program escalated with threats to refer it to the U.N. Security Council, "Iran moves its people and armed militias in Iraq to confront the U.S.-British forces there." The paper asked how Washington's differences with Iran escalated on an international level while it "rewards (Iran) in Iraq and offers it a large piece of the political cake by appointing pro-Iranian ministers."

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The United Arab Emirates' al-Khaleej daily said Kuwait has put its security forces on maximum alert and launched a "security strategy" to control the oil-rich state's vital installations. The pro-government paper quoted unidentified officials as saying the security forces were seriously taking the threats warned by the various intelligence services from "friendly countries" that al-Qaida might move its operations to countries neighboring Iraq after tightening the movement of fighters penetrating Iraq from the Syrian border. The sources told the paper al-Qaida may have already issued orders to its elements to change the place of their operations to "expand the battle and achieve gains that would boost the morale of the fighters inside Iraq." One source said the Kuwaitis were "prepared for all and the worst possibilities, and the security situation is under complete control."