Syrian, Palestine issues to top Arab League summit agenda

Amman - All member states in the Arab League will attend the summit, except Syria.

Leaders of the 22-member Arab League will meet on the shores of the Dead Sea in Jordan on today with Syrian issue on top of the agenda.
The summit will discuss many other regional issues including Palestine, Yemen, Libya and how to tackle the menace of terrorism.
UN Special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, envoys from US, Russia, France and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will attend the summit.
All member states in the Arab League will attend the summit, except Syria whose membership was suspended in 2011.
A number of mediamen told Khaleej Times that the Syrian issue is the core topic. "Though the Syrian flag flutters at the venue of the meeting without the participation of any representative either from the government or the opposition, Syria, however, remains in the Arab heart," they added.
"Many Arab countries are contributing directly and militarily to combat terrorism and extremism', said Mohammad Al Momani, Jordan's Minister of State for Media Affairs.
The summit will also discuss the Iranian interference in the internal affairs of the Arab countries, occupation of the UAE's three islands by Iran and Pan-Arab stand on Turkey's interference in Iraqi affairs.
The participants will also discuss the Palestinian issue, Arab-Israeli conflict and re-energising the Arab peace initiative. Other issues include situation of occupied Jerusalem (Al Quds), dossier of settlement, support of peace and development in Sudan and Somalia. As many as 17 Arab leaders are expected to take part in the summit, including, Jordan's King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Iraqi President Haider Al Abadi. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will not attend due to health reasons. "Arab citizens from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arab Gulf feel the pain of their brethren in Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Libya and Yemen", said Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
Addressing the preparatory meeting of the Arab foreign ministers ahead of the summit, he said: "We should not forget the core Arab issue - the Palestinian cause." "Process of reforming the Arab League should continue," he said and called on the Arab states to provide adequate support to Jordan and Lebanon for their efforts in hosting the Syrian refugees.
"The pressing crises should not make us forget our central and core issue- the Palestinian cause, and the International unanimity on the two states solution", said Ayman Al Safadi, Jordan Foreign Minister.
malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com
 
 
 
 

• MENA