Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul-Gheit delivers his speech

Arab FMs reiterate "Palestine" central issue for solving all trouble in region

27/03/2017

DEAD SEA, Jordan-- Arab foreign ministers reiterated on Monday that Palestine remains the "central issue" for solving all crises in the region, based on the two-state solution and Arab peace initiative.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul-Gheit said in a speech during the session that the rapid changes taking place in the region require that the Arab world remains at the heart of dealing with these challenges and changes.

Abul-Gheit called for exerting tremendous efforts to achieve a comprehensive and just settlement for Palestine, taking into account that these challenges represent a complex and interrelated package of internal political problems and regional interference in Arab affairs, which threatens Arab existence as a whole and undermines the foundation of a sovereign and independent national state.

The Arab League chief stressed that "the Syrian crisis, which represents the biggest crisis in modern history should not be left for regional or international parties which could manage it according to their own interests and away from Arab interests." Abul-Gheit called for the end of bloodshed in Syria and reaching a settlement instead on the basis of the Geneva Declaration 1 and Security Council Resolution 2254, which would preserve Syria's unity and territorial integrity, and also ensures the Syrian people's legitimate aspirations.

In his speech, Abul-Gheit also appealed to Arab countries to work in every way possible to activate collective Arab presence in major crises whether in Syria, Libya or Yemen.

He stressed that the League's strength and presence comes from the collective desire of Arab countries to work together, noting that the current challenges require joint work in terms of funding, political support, and moral support so that it will be more willing to interact with the Arab crises and better qualified to engage seriously in the attempt to resolve them.

Abul-Gheit also warned that the annual budget of the Arab League suffered a "serious deficit" over the past two years, which hinders its efforts to meet the aspirations of countries or to improve the aspirations of Arab citizens.

For his part, Mauritanian Foreign Minister Aslak Ould Ahmed, whose country chaired the 27th session of the Arab League Council, said that during its presidency his country has worked to develop a realistic approach to joint Arab action calling for strengthening inter-relations and taking into account the importance of working together to meet the challenges.

He added that Mauritania, in coordination with Arab parties involved, had started "within a record time" in accordance with the outcomes of the Nouakchott Declaration, and its recommendations to enhance Arab-Arab relations, and to meet common challenges, especially those related to priority issues such as the Palestinian issue, Arab national security and regional and international dialogue.

For his part, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said that Amman summit is an opportunity to regain momentum and agree on policies that can put the Arab world on the road to contain crises and overcome the challenges.

"It is true that we have differences in visions and policies, but we also have a consensus that makes adopting coordinated positions to deal with crises and make progress is an available option," Safadi said in a speech after taking over the presidency of the Arab League meeting at the level of foreign ministers from his Mauritanian counterpart.

"We are meeting in difficult times in which crises and conflicts deprive our region of security and stability that we all need to meet the aspirations of our peoples, to improve, progress, educate and work," Safadi added.

The minister pointed out that Arab regional entity was unable to resolve the crises, or stop the collapse, therefore Arab citizens' confidence in Arab joint institutions was lacking, and coordination was absent, with no viable influential Arab action.

"We agree on the centrality of the Palestinian case and the lifting of injustice of the occupation of Palestinian brothers on the basis of a two-state solution as a condition for regional security and stability," Safadi added.