Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Amr Moussa said in Tunis Saturday that a reform program in the Middle East region is not contingent upon a settlement to the Palestinian and Iraqi issues.

Moussa made the remarks at a joint news briefing with Tunisian Foreign Minister Habib Ben Yahia.

Moussa told the reporters that a settlement to the Palestine, Iraq issues will greatly contribute to the reform process in the Arab world.

"There is no doubt that a settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Iraqi issue will actively contribute to, and create a congenial atmosphere for, the reform process in the Middle East," he said.

"But, we will kick off the reform process soon without waiting for resolving both issues," the AL chief stressed.