1991 - H.E. Dr. Ahmed Esmat Abdel-Meguid - The Middle East at a Crossroad

In this lecture H.E. Dr. Abdel-Meguid shared his thoughts on recent developments in the Middle East. While acknowledging its limitations, he defended the Arab League as “the overall institution which binds all the Arab states together.” The recent Gulf crisis demonstrated the importance of regional institutions, especially given the lack of long-term legitimacy with externally imposed systems of security. He suggested that there were many positive signs for peace and cooperation in the Arab world: the readiness of all peoples in the area to construct a durable peace, the common resolve of the two superpowers in the area, singling out especially President Bush and Secretary of State Baker, and finally the participation of the European Community. He noted that there were still problems with Israeli policy that was holding back progress, especially its building of new settlements and its refusal to accept the Land for Peace deal, but understood from historical experience in the area that negotiation is often a difficult process that requires patience and perseverance. He called on all parties to engage in good faith negotiations to solve their differences.