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Arab Economic summit will be 2009''s biggest event -- official

CAIRO, Dec 25 (KUNA) -- Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa described the upcoming Arab Economic Summit, due in Kuwait on January 19-20, as "the largest and most important" Arab event in 2009.
In remarks to Al-Akhbar daily on Thursday, Moussa said that "Kuwait Summit" was to be yet another achievement added to Arab accomplishments since the establishment of the Arab League in March 1945.
The summit will witness the participation of the private sector and civil communities for the first time, he added. The summit will also see the participation of unions, finance ministers, governors of central bank.
The Arab League chief said standardizing customs regulations, placing minimum housing construction regulations, and setting a protective mechanism for Arab consumers would top the summit's agenda.
He said that accelerating the linkage of Arab electricity networkds and laying the railway network would also be included in the Arab leaders' upcoming discussions.
Moussa underscored a number of crucial economic ventures that would directly contribute to achieving comprehensive development in the Arab states, namely securing water routes, combating food shortage and poverty.
"The is no question that the world financial crisis has had an impact on the Arab world, and the need to lay down means to work this out", Moussa pointed out.
This year will witness greater development in the role of the Arab League, United Nations (UN), and other international organizations, namely in dialogue among civilizations, he said.
Cooperation with South America, China, India, Turkey, Russia and Japan are going to increase, he added. (end) rg.sab KUNA 251131 Dec 08NNNN