MERCOPRESS: ARAB LEAGUE, SOUTH AMERICAN SUMMIT LOOKS FOR POLITICAL COMMON GROUND

Arab League and South American countries opened Tuesday their second summit with the purpose of boosting trade and cooperation. The idea of regular meetings between the 22 members of the Arab League and 12 South American countries was born in Brasilia in 2005, sponsored by Brazilian president Lula da Silva. 

The purpose of the regular summits which includes government officials and business representatives is not only closer trade links, possibly some form of association, but also political, with strong cooperation in the international arena, according to Brazilian sources.  Precisely in the four years since its launching Brazil has seen trade with Arab countries zoom from 8 billion US dollars in 2004 to 20.2 billion in 2008.  The summit takes place a day after the Arab League’s meeting to address the recent conflict of Gaza, which has divided opinions. 

The two regions are looking also to expand ties at the people level. The Arab League estimates that between 10 and 15% of the population of South America is of Arab origin, seven million in Brazil alone.

Question to the Blogosphere:  The summit between the Arab League and the South American states has increased trade between the two regions, but has it hurt South America’s ability to trade with the United States, one of their main trade partners?  Reaching common ground appears to have many financial advantages, but could increased interactions between the two different regions increase tensions between their differing cultures?  What is the status of the Arab minorities in South America?  Do you think the fact that this meeting took place around the same time as the inter-Arab meetings in Doha made it have less of an impact?  What are the areas of common ground between Latin America and the Middle East?