Arab foreign ministerial preparatory meetings opened here on Saturday to finalize the agenda and draft the declaration of the 13th Arab summit, to be held next Tuesday in Jordan's capital.

The meetings turned into closed sessions after Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministers Amr Moussa and Abdel Ilah al-Khatib, and Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdel-Meguid delivered speeches to the opening session.

The upcoming Arab summit is expected to discuss the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, the Palestinian- Israeli peace process, and the Iraq issue.

Foreign ministers and representatives of the 22 members of the pan-Arab forum attended the opening session.

(Xinhua 03/26/2001)