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Abul-Gheit warns of terrorism impact on development plans

Arab League Secretary General Ahmad Abul-Gheit
Arab League Secretary General Ahmad Abul-Gheit
NOUAKCHOTT, July 22 (KUNA) -- Arab League Secretary General Ahmad Abul-Gheit has warned against the grave repercussions of terrorism on development plans in the Arab World.
Addressing a preparatory meeting for the Arab economy and trade ministers on Friday, ahead of the 27th Arab Summit due in Mauritania's capital of Nouakchott Monday, Abul-Gheit urged joining efforts to promote Arab economic integration.
He emphasized the momentousness of the Nouakchott Summit, which convenes amid the deep challenges in the Arab region, namely the changes sweeping it since 2011, and the ensued threat to state authority and decline of standards of living.
The spread of the terrorism phenomenon and terrorist groups' criminal acts have aggravated such negative implications, he said.
The Arab League chief urged serious and persistent efforts to promote the Arab economic and social action, as well as developing a mechanism for interacting with the relevant international changes, so that the Arab countries could react to the shocks that hit the world's economy.
Abul-Gheit underlined the necessity of reaching a consensus on the rules of origin and list of exceptions, that still hinder accomplishing the Arab Free Trade Zone.
He proposed convening the Arab development summit every four years, to be ahead of the UN General Assembly, so as to be able to coordinate the Arab stances and follow up the strategies and plans for the implementation of its goals.
According to Abul-Gheit, the Arab joint action over the coming period has to focus on overcoming poverty, providing dignified living conditions, and human rights, as bases for sustainable development.
For his part, Undersecretary of the Egyptian Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Said Abdullah addressed the meeting expressing hope that 27th summit would produce positive and practical resolutions to push ahead the Arab economic integration to realize welfare and prosperity for all Arabs. (end) mfm.aff.msa