Arab Officials Reiterate Commitment to Palestinian Cause

Spokesman for the Arab League Mahmoud Afifi

Dead Sea, Jordan, 2 Jumadil Akhir 1438/27 March 2017 (MINA) – A spokesman for the Arab League reaffirmed Sunday the League’s commitments to the Palestinian cause and just rights, KUNA reported.

The remark was made to reporters by Arab League Spokesman Mahmoud Afifi, on the sidelines of the preparatory meetings of the 28th Arab summit hosted by Jordan at the Dead Sea.

Afifi added that no new changes or developments on the Palestinian issue as some suggested in the media, stressing commitment to the two-state solution and to reactivate the Arab peace initiative, and full support for the Palestinian cause.

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Regarding the most important new issues presented to the preparatory meetings for the summit, Afifi said that “the only issue that emerged from the meetings of delegates and has put forward for the first time the issue in relation to the Syrian crisis and refugees, which was submitted by Jordan for the purpose of increasing support to hosting refugees.”

He added that the issue of terrorism is another topic, in addition to a draft resolution on the maintenance of Arab national security and combating terrorism which were presented in the past two summits

Concerning the participation in the summit, he said that Arab participation will be “great”, pointing out that nearly 15 Arab leaders will participate in the summit, which will give as expected “momentum and success.” Afifi also hoped that the summit will take place in a “good atmosphere” to bridge the gap, and views closer on the various issues through consultations by Arab leaders on the sidelines of the summit.

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On the Libyan issue, Afifi mentioned that the Arab League welcomes the formation of the Quartet, which includes the Arab League, the African Union, and the European Union.

A decision is to be made to propose an Arab-European summit, but it is up to the European side to determine the date and venue, Afifi added.

Other issues will include Arab Trade Zone, the activation of Arab Customs Union, and Sudanese initiative, which was proposed two years ago at Sharm El-Sheikh summit regarding “food security”, Afifi concluded. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)