South American and Arab countries

BRASILIA, May 11 (IPS) - The summit of South American and Arab countries took on clearly political overtones, in contrast to what the Brazilian government apparently intended when it organised this "alliance of civilisations" aimed at bolstering economic ties between the two regions. Terrorism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iraq, reforms in the United Nations and other touchy international issues were underlined in the leaders' speeches and in the final declaration that was adopted Wednesday at the end of the two-day summit.

Summit with Arab Countries Turns Political
Analysis by Mario Osava
IPS