LOC17:13
14:13 GMT
PARIS, Sept 25 (KUNA) -- A French official praised on Tuesday the important
role played by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the Arab League in
helping try to resolve the different crises that have erupted in the Arab
world over the past 18 months or so.
The diplomatic role of the GCC was highlighted here by Foreign Ministry
officials when asked about ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict in Syria,
which is to be discussed at several levels in meetings this week on the
sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
A major meeting "at ministerial level" is to be held in New York Wednesday
on "Peace and Security in the Middle East" and the "relationship between the
United Nations and regional organisations," Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman
Vincent Floreani indicated here Tuesday.
The meeting at the UN will examine cooperation "in the context of the 'Arab
Spring', (and)...notably the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council,
which have played an important role in Syria, in Libya and in Yemen," Floreani
remarked.
They, GCC and the Arab League "have often taken courageous initiatives to
which France paid homage. In all of these crises, France worked very closely
with the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council," the French official
added.
He said the "general theme" of the meeting Wednesday was under "Chapter
VIII" of the UN charter which governs "the role of regional organisations in
international peace and security" and the inclusion of these organisations was
"one of the objectives of the United Nations Charter." (end)
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KUNA 251713 Sep 12NNNN