Baghdad (UNA) – Iraqi government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi revealed on Thursday the topics included in the ministerial program of the Arab foreign ministers' preparatory meeting for the Arab Summit, while confirming the approval of five initiatives proposed by Iraq during the meeting.
Al-Awadi said, "The most important items contained in the ministerial program submitted to Arab leaders at the 34th summit in Baghdad include several files, including two reports: the first is the report on the previous 33rd summit and its implementation commitments, and the report of the Secretary-General of the Arab League on joint Arab action."
He added, "A number of topics were discussed in the program, including the Palestinian issue, the Arab-Zionist conflict, and its developments. Five items were detailed, while the other topic was Arab affairs and national security, which included 11 Arab issues or crises with details."
He continued, "The remaining topics included climate change, joint Arab security, and the venue of the upcoming 36th Arab Summit, as well as Arab initiatives and nominations for positions in regional and international institutions."
Al-Awadi revealed the approval of Iraqi initiatives that were ratified at the meeting of the Ministerial Council of Arab Foreign Ministers today, including: 1. The initiative to establish an Arab Center for Combating Terrorism 2. - The initiative to establish an Arab Center for Combating Drugs 3. The initiative to establish an Arab Center for Combating National Crime 4. The initiative to establish a Joint Arab Security Coordination Room 5. The Arab Fund initiative to support recovery and reconstruction efforts from the effects of crises.
The preparatory meeting of Arab foreign ministers for the 34th Arab Summit kicked off this morning in Baghdad, chaired by Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein, with the participation of the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Abdullatif Al Zayani, spoke at the opening session, as his country was the president of the previous session.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, Fuad Hussein, as Iraq is the current president of the session, followed by the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit. Al-Awadi indicated that “the Arab foreign ministers held a closed session after the opening session to review and approve the draft summit agenda and draft resolutions, in order to submit them to the Arab leaders for adoption.” Al-Awadi pointed out that “the agenda included eight main items covering various issues of joint Arab action, foremost among which are the Palestinian issue, Arab national security, and the fight against terrorism, in preparation for submitting these draft resolutions to the leaders and heads of state and government of the Council of the League of Arab States at the summit level in its thirty-fourth session.”
He stressed that "Arab foreign ministers held a closed consultative meeting in the capital, Baghdad, prior to the start of the preparatory ministerial meeting for the Arab League Council at the summit level, to coordinate and consult on the most prominent issues on the summit agenda, foremost among which are developments in the Palestinian issue, and new developments in a number of Arab countries, in addition to regional and international issues affecting Arab national security."
Al-Awadi continued, "The ministers also discussed, in their closed consultative meeting, the common Arab positions on contentious issues and agreed on the formulation of the resolutions that will be submitted to the official ministerial meeting, in preparation for their adoption at the leaders' summit scheduled for next Saturday in Baghdad."
He explained that "this consultative meeting is a traditional step that precedes official meetings, and aims to enhance political coordination among member states and facilitate consensus on the issues presented, thus contributing to the success of the summit and strengthening joint Arab action."
Al-Awadi noted, "The Arab Summit Follow-up Committee held a meeting today, chaired by the Kingdom of Bahrain, prior to the Arab Foreign Ministers' meeting, to prepare and approve the committee's report, which was submitted by the permanent delegates regarding the follow-up to the implementation of the decisions of the previous Arab Summit held in the Kingdom of Bahrain."
The Follow-Up Body for the Implementation of the Arab Summit Decisions and Commitments comprises the Arab Summit Troika: the Kingdom of Bahrain, as Chair, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Republic of Iraq; the Arab Ministerial Council Troika: Jordan, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates; and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. Source: Iraqi News Agency
(is over)
