CAIRO, February 16 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Arab foreign ministers held talks Sunday, February 16, on boosting international efforts to avoid a U.S.-led war on Iraq, but failed to agree on a date for an emergency Arab Summit on Iraq.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud, whose country currently chairs the Arab League, urged at the meeting Arab countries not to cooperate with U.S. President George W. Bush's plans to strike Iraq over its alleged hiding of weapons of mass destruction, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

"We emphasize the refusal of Arab states to provide any kind of assistance to a military action against Iraq," Hammoud told his 19 fellow foreign ministers and representatives from Oman and Mauritania, although many Arab states would be providing bases or logistical support to a U.S.-led war.

Speaking of the need for "a peaceful solution" to the Iraq crisis, the Lebanese official hailed France, Germany and Russia for fending off U.S. efforts to scrap the UN arms inspections charged with uncovering Baghdad's suspected arsenal.

"If a war is launched unilaterally, it would violate UN resolutions and spell the end of the world order that kept peace and stability since World War Two," Hammoud said. He added Iraq "has shown clear cooperation till now" with UN weapons inspectors.

No Date Set for Emergency Arab Summit

The attending ministers adopted a resolution rejecting "any (U.S.) aggression against Iraq" and any threats by Baghdad against Kuwait.

The resolution also urges the 22 members of the Arab League "not to provide any kind of assistance or facilities that can be used to threaten the safety and territorial integrity of Iraq."

It proclaims "the commitment of Arab states to preserve the safety and territorial integrity of the republic of Iraq and the state of Kuwait, and their (Arabs) rejection of any aggression against either of them."

However, it does not promise any specific sanctions against member states such as Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain that are hosting the U.S. military buildup for a possible war on Iraq.

The resolution, adopted after two days of talks, does not mention the United States by name. Neither does it mention a date for the emergency Arab summit on Iraq, called for by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, which is tentatively set for the last week of February 2003.

The resolution also emphasized Arab states' commitment to the sovereignty of both Iraq and Kuwait.

The resolution urged the UN Security Council "to give (UN weapons) inspectors sufficient time to complete their task in accordance with (UN Security Council) resolution 1441" on Iraq's disarmament.

The ministers also welcomed "the continued cooperation of Iraq with the inspectors" and urged them to "keep on working objectively and honestly."

The resolution also stated the Arab states' determination "to continue working with UN Security Council members, the European Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement, to step up efforts in order to avoid a war on Iraq, and stop the military buildup aimed against Iraq and the region."

It warned that "an aggression on Iraq ... would have dangerous consequences on the region while it still suffers from Israel's policy of occupation and destruction against the Palestinian people."

It also rejected "any plot or policy aimed at imposing changes on the region or interfering in its affairs".

Kuwaiti Reservations

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa confirmed that no date has been set for the emergency Arab Summit, saying that discussions were as serious as frank.

"The issue of timing the emergency summit is to be mooted within the coming days, putting in mind that there are other meetings the ministers here want to attend," Moussa said at the end of the meetings, referring to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting and the Non-Aligned Movement summit.

Standing beside Moussa, Hammoud admitted that Kuwait voiced its reservation at the final communiqué, repeating that the attending foreign ministers reject aggressions against "Kuwait or any other Arab country".

Moussa earlier said that "not one single Arab state has voiced reservations" on these issues, even Gulf states like Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain which host the U.S.-led military buildup in preparation for any war on Iraq.

"Clear" Message to Iraq

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, whose country is the current European Union president, and European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten joined the talks, becoming the first-ever non-Arab diplomats present at an Arab League foreign ministers' meeting.

"It reflects the keenness of Arabs to consult with the EU in supporting international efforts to bring about a peaceful settlement to the Iraq crisis and avoid war," an Arab League official said.

Papandreou told reporters he spoke one-on-one with his Iraqi counterpart Naji Sabri, advising Baghdad to comply with UN disarmament terms in order to avoid a US-led war.

"The message is very clear, there are specific questions pointed out by (chief UN inspectors Hans) Blix and (Mohamed) ElBaradei that must be answered as soon as possible, in a clear and credible way," Papandreou said.

If Iraq does so, "then we will be moving on the road of peace," he added, warning Baghdad of "dire consequences" if it doesn't.

He said his attendance at the Arab meeting along with Patten showed that "both sides (the Arab League and EU) want to work together to defuse the Iraqi crisis."

"War is not inevitable, there is a chance for peace, there is a real one if it is understood by (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein," he continued.

He played down the rift within the EU on Iraq, saying "Europe is united in the purpose of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1441" on Iraq's disarmament, "in supporting the United Nations and in exhausting all diplomatic means in trying to find a peaceful solution."

The EU is to hold a summit Monday in Brussels to trying to forge a common line between Britain -- Washington's staunchest ally in the crisis -- at one end of the EU spectrum and France and Germany at the other.

U.S. Middle East envoy William Burns was expected to visit Cairo Sunday but his trip was postponed, according to the U.S. embassy which did not give any reason.

For his part, Sabri said: "We hope the Arab meetings will deter those who want to harm Arab rights and dignity."

His words contrasted with those of Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah who said Saturday that "the miracle should come from within Iraq, either through the departure of (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein or through something else."

Bahrain's King Hamad, in remarks published Saturday during the Cairo talks, said he had agreed Friday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to "call on Arab brethren to frankly explain to Iraq the seriousness of the situation."

Unless the Arabs "now counsel Iraq, sincerely and in unison, not to misread U.S. intentions, we fear this (a U.S.-led strike) will recur," said Hamad, who in September cautioned that no one could stop an eventual US attack on Iraq.