The Arab States finally agreed to attend the Annapolis peace conference that will be held tomorrow in the United States. Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu-Bakr Abdullah al-Qirbi made it clear that the upcoming Annapolis Mideast peace conference does not mean automatic normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab world.

Qirbi noted that the Annapolis meeting is only a beginning and that normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab world could only be realized if Israel is committed to achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the Mideast.

Qirbi expected something positive from Palestinian National Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas ahead of the decision on Arab participation in the international conference.

The AL follow-up committee, entrusted by the Arab summit to follow up the Mideast peace process, is made up of Yemen, Palestine, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, and Tunisia.

Some 49 countries, institutions and individuals, including some select Arab states and other key nations with a stake in the Mideast peace process, were invited to the international meeting