ARAB LEAGUE POSTPONES JOINT FORCE MEETING INDEFINITELY

Cairo, 17 Dhulqa’dah 1436/1 September 2015 (MINA) – The Arab League has postponed a meeting at foreign and defence minister level to discuss the formation of a Joint Arab Force. The meeting, which was scheduled for today, 27 August, has been postponed “indefinitely” for the second time.

The 22-member organisation said that the postponement following a request from Saudi Arabia, backed by Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Iraq.

“The Arab League’s Secretary General decided to postpone the meeting following consultations with the presidency,” a spokesperson revealed, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA), Monday (31/8).

A diplomatic source at the Arab League revealed earlier to Quds Press that the postponement followed differences between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. These relate to the force’s “support mechanism, headquarters, mandate and non-interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries,” claimed the source.

Oman and Iraq have refused to join the proposed force, while Algeria has expressed reservations, saying that it violates the joint Arab defence agreement. (T/P002/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)