Arab League Summit concludes with key decisions on regional issues

AMMAN — The Arab League Summit, held in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, concluded on Friday evening with the adoption of various decisions, according to Amad news outlet. اضافة اعلان

The summit was chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, and saw the historic attendance of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad who was suspended 12 years ago.

Assad won a hug from Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince at the meeting attended by leaders who had shunned him for years, in a policy shift opposed by the US and other Western powers.


Draft statementAccording to a draft final statement of the thirty-second session of the ordinary Arab League summit, the significance of the Palestinian cause for the entire Arab nation was highlighted. 

The league reaffirmed the Arab identity of occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine and stressed the State of Palestine's right to full sovereignty over all territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem. 

The activation of the "Arab Peace Initiative" was also highlighted as crucial.


Lebanon urged to expedite government formation
The statement urged the Lebanese authorities to continue their efforts in electing a president and forming a government at the earliest opportunity. 

Additionally, the Lebanese government was called upon to undertake necessary economic reforms to overcome the severe crisis gripping the nation.


Commitment to Syrian sovereignty and stability reaffirmed
Concerning the Syrian issue, the draft statement emphasized the renewed commitment to safeguarding the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and stability of Syria. 

It also stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to assist Syria in overcoming its crisis and alleviating the suffering of its people.

At the summit, Syrian President Assad said: "I hope that it marks the beginning of a new phase of Arab action for solidarity among us, for peace in our region, development, and prosperity instead of war and destruction”.

"Today is a historic opportunity to rearrange our affairs with the least amount of foreign interference," he added.


Solidarity with Sudan's sovereignty and independence
Full solidarity was confirmed in preserving the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Sudan, according to the statement.

The statement considered the internal crisis in Sudan as an internal matter and rejected any interference in its internal affairs, emphasizing the need to preserve the country's institutions.

Similarly, addressing developments in Libya, the draft statement affirmed the commitment to the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the country. It denounced all forms of external intervention and called for refraining from escalation.

The draft statement also highlighted the commitment to the unity and sovereignty of Yemen, extending continued support to the legitimate Yemeni government led by the Presidential Council under the leadership of Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi. 

It also emphasized the importance of enhancing the role and support for the government.



Support for Somalia's counterterrorism efforts
Expressing support for Somalia, the statement called for backing the comprehensive fight against terrorism by the Somali government, particularly against Al-Shabaab, with the aim of eradicating the group.

The Somali National Army received praise for its efforts in combating terrorism.


UAE’s sovereignty over islands reaffirmed
The draft statement reiterated the absolute affirmation of the UAE’s sovereignty over its three islands, namely Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa.


Saudi-Iranian agreement welcomed, Turkey's actions condemned
Regarding the Iranian file, the statement welcomed the recent agreement reached between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Beijing. 

The agreement includes the resumption of diplomatic relations, the reopening of embassies, and the activation of a security and economic cooperation agreement between the two countries. 

On the other hand, the draft statement condemned the incursion of Turkish forces into Iraqi territory and demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Turkish forces.

The draft statement also strongly condemned all criminal operations carried out by terrorist organizations in Arab countries and around the world. It called upon Arab nations that have not yet ratified the Arab Convention on Counterterrorism to do so, emphasizing the importance of collective action against terrorism.



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