Kuwait considering hosting third Syrian donors’ summit

A team of staff from Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development will be visiting Lebanon over the next two days to arrange support needed to face the burden of over one million Syrian refugees, a senior Kuwaiti official said. “Kuwait is giving this matter special significance and is seriously considering hosting a third donor nations’ conference (for Syrians displaced within and outside of their country),” First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al- Hamad Al-Sabah said at a joint press conference.

Standing alongside Arab League Secretary General Nabil Al-Araby and Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil, he stressed Arab support of the territory and identity of Lebanon in the face of terrorism. After leading an Arab ministerial delegation - due to Kuwait’s current status as chair of the summit - which held talks with officials in Beirut, he said the continuing outpouring of violence from Syria into Lebanon was also discussed. He expressed optimism this would be resolved by the Arab and international communities.

For his part, Araby reiterated that there was Arab consensus on supporting Lebanon. The Arab League has set out a “comprehensive strategy” aimed at fighting terrorism, which he said was for Arab nations to commit to. According to UN estimates, he said around 13 million Syrians are suffering as a result of the conflict - nine million of them inside the country and four million in neighboring countries

Arab solidarity Earlier, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said that the visiting Arab ministerial delegation had conveyed a message of Arab solidarity with, and support for Lebanon. “The message of solidarity and support proceeds from the resolutions of the recent Arab summit in Kuwait and other Arab ministerial councils,” he told a news conference following his meeting with his Lebanese counterpart.

Such resolutions require followingup for implementation especially ones bearing on Lebanon’s security and stability as well as support for its military and security agencies in their fight against terrorism, extremist groups and Israeli ambitions, he said. He also pointed to Arab help in boosting Lebanon’s economic growth, and easing out burdens on Lebanon due to hosting Syrian refugees. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled added that the Arab delegation had also discussed with Lebanese officials how the Arab League’s members can provide more help to steps taken by Lebanon to address its challenges. Condemning recent “criminal acts” in Lebanon, he said this Arab country is facing major challenges and that’s why it needs help from Arab countries in line with relevant Arab resolutions.

He hoped that Lebanon’s next president would be able to attend the forthcoming Arab summit due in Cairo on March 28. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled noted that the Arab ministerial team would report to Arab foreign ministers about the outcomes of the visit to Lebanon.

Lebanon’s security The visiting Arab ministerial team also held talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Saeb and Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, during which they mulled what Arab countries can do to help in maintaining Lebanon’s security, stability and territorial integrity, fighting terrorism and boosting its economic growth. They also exchanged views on key issues and subjects on both regional and international arenas. Mauritanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ahmed Ould Teguedi and Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Al-Araby, were present in the talks.

The visit came in implementation of an Arab League Council resolution with the aim of showing Arab solidarity with the Lebanese people and government, as well as to support efforts on the political, economic and security level in order to maintain security and stability of all Lebanese territories.