Nouakchott’s summit to discuss regional dilemmas, Palestine, counter-terrorism
All draft resolutions set for summit
NOUAKCHOTT: The situation in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen as well as the Palestinian cause in addition to counter-terrorism efforts are several topics expected to be highlighted in the upcoming 27th Arab summit in Mauritania.
Held for the first time since Mauritania joined the Arab League in 1973, the Nouakchott summit’s agenda will focus on solutions to the various problems plaguing the Arab region. The summit is also expected to touch on means to enhance cooperation among members of the Arab League.
Arab League Secretary General Ahmad Abul-Gheit is expected to address the meeting, to be attended by leaders and top officials with his speech highlighting what is needed to be done to solve problems in the Arab world. Abul-Gheit’s speech will also focus on the Palestinian cause, calling for a just solution to end the long struggle of the people of Palestine.
Resolutions
All draft resolutions are set to be forwarded to Arab leaders during the summit, said Arab League Secretary General’s spokesman Mahmoud Afifi on Saturday. The draft resolutions concern current political, economic and social affairs that aim to boost joint Arab action, Afifi told a press conference after the conclusion of the preparatory meeting on foreign ministers’ level in Nouakchott’s, where the leaders’ Summit is due to take place today.
Afifi revealed that some Arab countries voiced reservations over draft resolutions related to Iranian interventions in Arab affairs, as well as the issue of condemning Turkish incursion in Iraqi soil. Afifi was referring to Lebanon, which has a large Shia population and is home to the powerful Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah, as Beirut acts as the only dissenting voice among the League’s Member States.
However, Afifi said that Abul-Gheit was working to narrow the gaps in a bid to reach mutual understanding among Member States, either in camera or on bilateral levels. Pointing out that the ongoing bloody Syrian conflict is topping the Summit’s agenda, Minister Plenipotentiary Afifi at the same time denied any attempts to thwart holding the Summit, appreciating Nouakchott’s record preparation to host the annual gathering after Morocco’s apology.
Yemen
Meanwhile, Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdulmalek Al-Mekhlafi highly appreciated the State of Kuwait’s host of peace talks among Yemeni parties. “We greatly appreciate the State of Kuwait’s hosting of Yemeni talks,” Mekhlafi said in a statement after the preparatory Arab Foreign Ministers’ meeting, noting that Kuwait hosted Yemeni talks in the 1960s and 1970s.
He said the Yemeni parties were keen on the success of the UN-sponsored talks, “but you can’t expect things to be as you wish them to be,” as the government, Ansrallulah and the General People’s Congress failed so far to achieve a solution.
He hoped the coming days would have good news that would restore peace all over Yemen and before the ultimatum set by Kuwait. Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah has recently said that Kuwait set a 15day ultimatum for the Yemeni parties to reach an agreement.
Kuwait’s support
Separately, a senior Arab League official praised Kuwait’s support to the Arab nation and causes. Kuwait addresses the Arab issues “as if they were Kuwaiti causes,” Assistant Secretary General for Palestine and the Occupied Territories Said Abu-Ali said on the sidelines of the Arab foreign ministers’ preparatory meeting. He referred to Kuwait’s support to the Arab causes as “historical and distinguished,” and is not confined to finance, but extends to the economic, cultural and social spheres. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s participation in the Nouakchott summit reiterates the depth of the Kuwaiti role serving the Arab causes, he noted. Abu-Ali recalled His Highness the Amir’s role in support of the Palestinian cause since he was a foreign minister. Also, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riadh Al-Malki commended the strong relations with the State of Kuwait, which has been a solid supporter of the Palestinians. In a statement after the preparatory Arab Foreign Ministers’ meeting, Malki said Kuwait, whether His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah or the government, has been backing the Palestinian cause since the early beginnings.
Kuwait, he noted, allocated $200 million to rebuild the Gaza Strip following the Israeli aggress against the besieged enclave. Malki described the relations between Kuwait and Palestine as “excellent,” noting the Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled’s visit to Palestine, which resulted in the formation of a ministerial committee.
Humanitarian role
In the meantime, Arab foreign ministers lauded His Highness the Amir for the great humanitarian role he has been playing on the Arab arena. The expression of gratitude was included in the blueprint of the Arab Summit resolutions that have been submitted by the ministers to the top leaders.
The ministers praised His Highness the Amir, the Humanitarian Leader, for the role he had played regarding the Syrian crisis, as well as Kuwait’s hosting of three international conferences for aiding the Syrian people, in addition to the planned convention for supporting education in Somalia.