Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that the meetings of the regular session of the Arab League Council held yesterday at the ministerial level discussed many issues and files related to the affairs of Arab countries.
At a joint press conference with the Secretary-General of the Arab League, H E Ahmed Aboul Gheit, at the end of the 155th session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level which was chaired by the State of Qatar, His Excellency said that there was agreement on many issues related to the joint Arab action, hoping that they represent a tangible beginning that meets the aspirations of the Arab peoples.
He described the atmosphere in which the meetings were held as positive, and congratulated Ahmed Aboul Gheit on the Council’s approval to renew his appointment as Secretary-General for a second term, wishing him success.
H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that they discussed many issues of concern to Arab countries, foremost among which is the Palestinian issue and joint Arab action. Responding to a question on the relations between the State of Qatar and Turkey and Iran and the interference in the affairs of Arab countries, he said there is confusion between bilateral relations of countries and relations within the framework of the Arab League, and we reject interference in the internal affairs of the State of Qatar or that of any other country and each state has the right to preserve its security and sovereignty and take appropriate measures to achieve this.
On the Qatari-Egyptian relations and the meeting he held with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said we attended the Al Ula summit, and there was a declaration that ended the Gulf crisis, and there was a meeting between two delegations from Qatar and Egypt. We in the State of Qatar and the brothers in Egypt look at matters positively and strive for a return of warm relations. The meeting with Minister Shoukry was characterised by a positive spirit and optimism for the return of relations to normalcy.
Meanwhile, the 155th session of the Council of the Arab League at the ministerial level, chaired by the Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani , discussed the draft agenda and approval of decisions submitted by the permanent delegates during their meeting that was held on Monday with Qatar presiding.
The draft agenda consisted of nine main items, at the forefront of which was joint Arab action, the Palestinian cause, and the Arab-Israeli conflict item which includes following the political developments of the Palestinian cause and the Arab-Israeli conflict, activating the Arab Peace Initiative, the Israeli developments and violations in Occupied Al Quds, in addition to a follow-up on the budget of the State of Palestine and the resilience of the Palestinians, the Arab Water Security and Israel’s stealing of the water on the occupied Arab lands.
The draft agenda also includes solidarity with Lebanon, discussing the latest developments in Syria, Libya and Yemen, security of navigation and energy supplies in the Arab Gulf region, and supporting peace and development in Sudan, which fall under the item on the Arab affairs and the Arab national security.
Among the items is another on international political affairs, which includes the danger of Israel armaments that threatens the Arab national security and international peace, and the establishment of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone (NWFZ) which would also be free of any other mass destruction weapons in the Middle East.
The item on international political affairs also includes Arab affairs with regional and international gatherings, such as the process of Arab-African cooperation and Arab-European dialogue, and the cooperation between the Arab League, the United Nations and the UN Security Council.
The agenda also included an item on supporting the internally displaced people in the Arab countries, particularly the Iraqi displaced people, and the draft Arab strategy to prevent and combat all forms of violence against refugees, especially abuse against women and underage girls, in addition to the draft strategy of the Arab Women Mediators Network and the amendment of the Arab Human Rights Committee (AHRC) name to the Arab Charter on Human Rights. Topics on legal affairs included international terrorism and ways of combating it, as well as maintaining Arab national security and combating terrorism, and developing the Arab system for combating terrorism.
