The Mail on Sunday apologises to Nadhmi Auchi
First Published 22-10-2006

The Mail on Sunday a UK-based Newspaper has apologised to Nadhmi Auchi for an article published on 9 January 2005.

London - The paper said "On January 9, 2005, we published an article referring to Mr Auchi. We are happy to make clear that Mr Auchi is not linked to Saddam Hussein. He left Iraq in 1980 and has never been back. As to his conviction in France in relation to the 2003 Elf petroleum scandal, Mr Auchi has always denied any wrongdoing and continues to pursue his appeal. We also referred to a Pentagon Report concerning the mobile telephone network contract in Iraq. The Report has since been discredited and Mr Auchi now faces no suspicion of any wrongdoing. We apologise to Mr Auchi for the distress and embarrassment caused by our article".

Chirac pleads for dialogue between civilisations
First Published 14-09-2006, Last Updated 14-09-2006 16:25:43

Chirac urged civilisations to fight dangerous stereotypes

French leader kicks off dialogue between civilizations of East and West amid strong presence of Anglo Arab Organisation.

By Saad Guerraoui - LONDON

A few weeks after the Lebanese-Israeli conflict, French President Jacques Chirac relaunched Wednesday in Paris the revival of a dialogue favorable to the “re-establishment of confidence” in a bid to reinforce the ties between Islam and Occident.

In a speech made in the Elysee before more than 250 personalities from the Mediterranean and Gulf regions at the time of the launching of the first cultural workshop Europe-Mediterranean-Gulf, the French leader said “we are threatened by a divorce of cultures, Occident against Islam, laic against monk, North against South, the rich against the poor,” in reference to September 11, 2001 attacks and the controversial caricatures of prophet Mohammed.

“Nothing will be solved by force, nor will be alleviated by caricature and exclusion”, Chirac underlined in front of an audience of academics, religious figures, members of civil society and representatives of states.

“The evilisation of the Occident on one side and suspicion towards Islam on the other side - seen as an obstacle to modernity - are dangerous stereotypes which must be fought by a joint effort.”

“Middle East conflicts which all are reinforced and combined are at the heart of the world’s instability,” pointed out Chirac, adding that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict generated the “feeling of frustration so deeply felt by the Arab and Muslim world.”

“To ward off the shock of ignorance, stupidity and arrogance, we must imperatively find the way of dialogue,” he noted.

Present at the cultural workshop was Nadhmi Auchi, President of the Anglo Arab Organisation whose aim is to bridge the cultural and political divides between East and West.

“Since its establishment, our organisation has strived to bring together opinions from East and West,” said Auchi.

“We aim to be among the organisations that counter ignorance mentioned by President Chirac. We strongly support his noble cause to address one of the world’s most dangerous cultural and political crises.”

Auchi noted “the role of immigrants and organisations is re-establish the ties of trust which have been weakened by errors from both sides.”

“We do not want the youth of the East or the West to grow up bearing with them negative perceptions about each other. We are brothers in humanity,” he added.

Organized in sets of themes, the cultural workshop will last for one year and will next take place in Seville in February, then in Alexandria in June.

Chirac made his own proposals, in particular the creation of a programme called “Erasmus Méditerranée” which could take the name of Averroès, and make it possible for students to spend one academic year in a European Union country different from theirs in order to bridge cultures and promote dialogue.

Anglo Arab Organisation debate on Lebanon turns into protest against Israel
First Published 08-09-2006, Last Updated 08-09-2006 13:17:05

It was like 'London Blitz'

Lebanese, Syrian ministers criticise Western inaction to stop Israeli bombardment.

LONDON – A debate organised by the Anglo Arab Organisation held at the House of Commons has turned into a protest against the recent Israeli offensive against Gaza and South Lebanon.

During the debate, US and UK foreign policies were criticised for failing to back international law and halt the Israeli offensive.

Present during the debate were twenty British MPs, ten Arab ambassadors, and a large British and Arab audience.

The debate started with displaying a film on the destructive impact the Israeli air strikes had on Lebanon.

The aim of presenting the film, said the President of the Arab Lawyers Association in Britain, Sabah Al-Mukhtar, was to highlight important parts of the conflict that were not covered by Western media and thus not reaching the average observer.

During his address at the debate, the President of the Anglo Arab Organisation, Mr. Nadhmi Auchi, pointed to the efforts his organisation took to help the Lebanese people by donating two fully equipped ambulances in addition to 80,000 items of child clothing to be distributed among the displaced families.

Mr. Auchi also called on the International Community to bear its responsibility in the reconstruction of Lebanon, to help lift the blockade on the country, and to stop any further Israeli aggression.

He further stressed that there won’t be real stability in the region unless a complete just peace is sought.

Representing the British Government at the debate, the Secretary of State for International Development, Hilary Benn, noted that the Israeli blockade against Lebanon is illegal and must be lifted at once.

Mr. Benn added that although he understands Israel’s need to protect itself, the Israeli government shouldn’t have gone as far as destroying the Lebanese infrastructure and displacing innocent civilians.

Britain will participate in the reconstruction of Lebanon, noted the British Secretary, referring to his recent meeting with the Lebanon’s Prime Minster Fouad Siniora in Stockholm.

He said that this war was a direct result of previous failures to come to a peace settlement for the whole region, and especially for Palestine.

Lebanon’s Environment Minister, Yacoub Al-Sarraf, who represented President Emile Lahoud, stressed that the aim of capturing the Israeli soldiers by Hizbollah was not to threaten Israel’s security, but rather to try to secure a deal that would lead to the release of thousands of Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons, some of whom spent 28 years in prison without even being tried in court.

Al-Sarraf added that Israeli government has not fully implemented UN resolution 1701 by continuing its assault on Lebanese territories.

The new war for Lebanon, the Lebanese Minister noted, is the struggle to rebuild the country and provide its citizens with a safe normal life.

From the Labour Party, Dr. Phyllis Starkey MP said that the level of destruction of Lebanon is beyond description.

After visiting the south of the country and seeing the state of the damage first hand, Dr. Starkey compared the scene to what was London like after the Nazi Blitz during the Second World War.

She added that Israel had exceeded all limits with its bombings and should be pressured into not repeating such actions.

Extending the blame to the British and American side, Conservative MP Crispin Blunt accused British Prime Minister Tony Blair of aiding the United States to buy more time for Israel to continue its assault until a UN resolution could be reached.

On a similar note, Liberal Democrat Lord Garden followed suit in criticising Mr. Blair’s government accusing it of submitting to US will.

Lord Garden also called for an immediate lift of the embargo imposed on Lebanon.

He stressed the importance of taking into account the roots of the problem, linking it to the wider picture which extends to Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sharing the view that the US and the UK did not do what it can to stop the destruction of Lebanon, Syria’s Information Minister, Dr. Mohsen Bilal, added that even the UN resolution 1701 was not good enough since it does call for a cease fire. “Is this [the outcome of] democracy?” asked the Syrian Minister.

The debate concluded with displaying another film on the destruction of Lebanon, calling on the Lebanese people to rebuild their war-torn country.

Auchi meets Assad: We stand in solidarity with efforts to resolve crisis of Israeli aggression against Lebanon
First Published 03-08-2006, Last Updated 03-08-2006 14:04:25

Syrian President Assad and Auchi

President of Anglo Arab Organization urges US to press for ceasefir and to prevent killing of civilians.

DAMASCUS – The Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad received at People's Palace the President of the Anglo Arab Organization Nadhmi Auchi, who is currently visiting Damascus.

Assad discussed with Auchi the current situation in the volatile region and the political and humanitarian repercussions of the Israeli aggression against Lebanon.

They also discussed the role of the Arab organizations and bodies which are based in the West to influence international public opinion and to explain the dangers of the region’s slide into a war zone whose consequences on all parties would be difficult to assess.

Auchi said in a press conference after his meeting with the Syrian President that “the Anglo Arab Organization (AAO) expresses total solidarity with all regional and international efforts that are working to find a solution to the serious crisis caused by the Israeli aggression against Lebanon."

"We stand with Syria and Lebanon in the face of Israeli aggression and the threats coming from some major states which are trying to control the Middle East’s fate in an irresponsible way that is leading the region to further problems and extremism," he added.

“It’s time for the United States to look at the region’s crises and move to solve them in a way that will include all outstanding issues, taking into account the rights of Arab peoples to their lands and their rights to peace and prosperity. Europe, the Group of Eight (G8) and the permanent members of the Security Council must push in this direction, or else we will see the region heading from one tragedy to a graver one. The first step is a quick ceasefire in Lebanon and preventing the killing of civilians.”

Auchi emphasized his organization’s role to approach Western public opinion and explain Arabs’ views of the region’s crises.

AAO, along with many British peace organizations and other prominent bodies, called for a big demonstration in the British capital this Saturday to protest the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, British support for Israel, and to prevent the killing of Lebanese and Palestinians civilians.

Auchi also sent a letter to the G8 leaders urging them to move quickly to stop the aggression and protect Lebanese and Palestinian civilians and infrastructure.

'We unreservedly apologise to Mr Auchi'

Paper says that its article was based on a US report that later was discredited.

LONDON – The Sunday Times, the UK-based newspaper, has apologised to Nadhmi Auchi, the Iraqi-born British businessman, for wrongly reporting that Mr Auchi is embroiled in a US investigation.

The paper said that its report, published in February 2005, was based on an internal US Department of Defence report which was subsequently discredited.

The Sunday Times newspaper said in its apology that “we are … happy to make clear that Nadhmi Auchi is not, and has never been, involved in the US investigation and no suspicions of any wrongdoing fall on him. We unreservedly apologise to Mr Auchi for the embarrassment and upset caused.”

AAO urges Blair to interfere to stop Israeli attacks in Lebanon, Palestine
First Published 20-07-2006, Last Updated 20-07-2006 11:57:57

Auchi stresses that the UK has a role to play in convincing US to shift policy, help stop killing of innocent civilians.

LONDON – The Anglo Arab Organisation called upon the British Prime Minister Tony Blair to interfere to "end the killing of Arab civilians by the Israeli army in Lebanon and Palestine."

In a letter to Mr Blair, Mr Nadhmi Auchi, President of the Anglo Arab Organisation, emphasised the need by the G8 nations to take immediate action to stop the killing of innocent civilians and the destruction of Lebanese and Palestinian infrastructure.

"The Anglo Arab Organisation and its members have and will continue to expect our Government to follow what it once called “Ethical Foreign Policy”. Great Britain has a special role to play on the world stage, she has always undertaken prominent and brave role especially in times when human life is being destroyed," Auchi said in his letter.

"The Capture of one Israeli soldier in Palestine and two in Lebanon can not be the justification to start a war, especially when the Israeli Government has itself captured elected ministers and members of Parliament not to mention hundreds of civilians, both in Lebanon and Palestine for months and years with out even a chance of a fair trial," he added.

Auchi stressed that the UK use the special relationship with the USA to shift the US policy on this matter and "a moral and brave stand is called for now more than ever."

"No matter what happened, an immediate cease fire must be imposed to stop the killing of civilians and the continuing commission of war crimes by the Israeli forces," pleaded Auchi.

Anglo Arab Organization holds seminar in British Parliament about MidEast
First Published 05-04-2006, Last Updated 05-04-2006 10:56:49

AAO members and speakers

Auchi calls upon Western Governments to work seriously to stop blood shed in Middle East.

London - The Anglo Arab Organization in cooperation with the Britain club held a political meeting Monday entitled: “Peace and Prosperity in the Middle East”.

Christopher Ruddy, Head of NewsMax, the giant American Media Group, at his speech as a guest, talked about the features of the present problem in the Middle East and the American role in it.

Nigel Evans, MP, Head of the All-Parties Group in the British Parliament, talked about the way to correct the relation between the West and the Middle East at this decisive era in history.

Richard Burden, MP, member of the Foreign Relations Committee in the Parliament and Keith Vaz, MP, former State Minister for the European Affairs.

Nadhmi Auchi, President of the Anglo Arab Organization said in his welcoming speech: “My duty as the President of AAO is to raise these issues and help to build bridges between the east and the west. Through understanding and working hard together, we hope that peace and prosperity in the Middle East can be attained, What is happening in the Middle East is not acceptable or justified in any way, and I would like to appeal here from this stage to all international government which have influences in the Middle East to gather and stop this bloodshed and massacre”.

He added: “Dialogue is the only way that can get us together out of this problem. We reiterate our role as an organization in building the dialogue bridges between Arab and Moslems on one side, and Britain, Europe and the West in general on the other side”.

Jeremy Bradshaw, Head of the Britain Club said: “this is the right time to talk about the Middle East, especially that we are living the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. It is not a secret that Iraq is descending quickly into a civil war and that it has become a confrontation field as the crisis between Iran and the United States is increasing”.

He added: “We also personify here that the Palestinian problem is slipping away from solutions and going towards a confrontation between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

Christopher Ruddy, President and CEO of NewsMax Group, which he has been named by the Newsweek as one of America’s top 20 most influential new media personality in American, while talking about the relation between the United States and the Middle East said: “We face a crucial period in the region and we can identify the American’s mistakes there”.

He added: “I was always supporting the conservative views in America and considering The former American President, Ronald Regan who deserved appreciation for the conservative values and through his belief in it, he succeeded in dismantling the Soviet Union by relying on basic elements in his policy: Preserving values; making America an example for the rest of the world; spreading democratic ideas; not entering international conflicts without the international support and the participation of many allies; and emphasizes the need to have a clear plan to enter and a more clearer plan of withdrawal from any conflict or problem”.

“What President Bush did, is violating all those recommendations: The world is scared of the American power more than admiring its value; and the Democratic ideas that is spread by force, pressure and occupation of other nations, which have no history in the democratic experience; and the war on Iraq was carried out with one ally and an International unprecedented opposition; and it is clear that there is no plan for stability in Iraq and withdrawal of troops," he said.

British MP, Nigel Evans, said in his speech “In front of the present problems I cannot find anything that is equal to dialogue. We have to have a dialogue with the Arab world to get out of the problem. We should understand their problems and fury caused by Western politics”.

MP Richard Burden said: “I just came from a meeting with the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Jack Straw. I would like assure you British politicians are very worried of what has happened in Jericho and the continuous political and diplomatic protection of Israel in its violating and exceeding policies and cruel actions against the Palestinians”

“I tell you the truth: The problem will not be solved and there will be no stability in Iraq as long as the Palestinian-Israeli problem is not solved”, he added.

MP Keith Vaz conducted the dialogue with the guests who all agreed that Western Policy in the Middle East is suffering of many big deficiencies that need a comprehensive review.

The Anglo Arab Organization is a non-governmental organization that tries to build political and economic bridges between Britain and the Arab World, and the Britain Club is the cultural and intellectual front of the British Conservative Party.