Syria has prepared diplomatically for the summit. Damascus' streets have been decorated with symbols of the summit, and local newspapers have published quotations by Arab politicians and statesmen about the importance of the summit for affirming Arab unity.
In his welcoming address, Syrian President Bashar Assad said that Syria remains the leading force seeking to unite the Arab countries and coordinate a policy of resisting international challenges.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said that Syria wants the summit to strengthen Arab solidarity.
But finding solidarity is easier said than done. The 22 members of the League of Arab States differ vastly in their levels of development, economic policies, domestic politics and views of the Arab world's future. The group is no longer united by its original goals - establishment of the Palestinian state and resistance to Israel - and when these are mentioned, they are used only to serve the interests of individual groups.
No wonder several Arab leaders have refused to come to Damascus. Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan will send only relatively junior officials to Syria. Egypt will be represented by its minister for legal affairs and parliamentary councils. Saudi Arabia will send its permanent representative at the League, and Jordan its information and communications minister.
Lebanon's parliament has voted against attending the summit altogether.
Nor will Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki attend the meeting in Damascus, purportedly because of bloody clashes between the Iraqi security forces and fighters from the Mahdi Army of Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr in Basra.
All of this despite the fact that the summit is to discuss the Lebanese crisis and the situation in Iraq.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt accuse Syria of prolonging the political crisis in Lebanon by preventing the presidential election there, and of trying to ensure Iran's attendance of the Arab summit.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Iraq, which is gradually emerging from the chaos that has immobilized it for the fast five years, are fighting for leadership in the Arab world. External forces, in particular Iran and the United States, are exploiting their differences in order to win over as many Arab countries as possible to their side.
Syria claims the United States has done its best to prevent the Damascus summit. Last week, Vice President Dick Cheney made a nine-day tour of the Middle East, while Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be in the region on March 29 and 30, during the League's summit.
Given these painstaking political efforts, it is a miracle that the summit will be held at all. Even so, it is unlikely to improve relations between Arab countries, harmonize their interests, or strengthen Arab unity. On the contrary, the 20th summit of the Arab League will most likely reveal a deplorable lack of unity in the Arab world.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.
