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08:33 GMT
(With photos) CAIRO, Jan 10 (KUNA) -- Chairman and Director General of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Sabah described the Arab Economic Summit, slated to convene in Kuwait January 19-20, as a unique and important event on the road toward joint Arab cooperation.
He added, in an article to be published Sunday in a special edition of the Egyptian magazine "Ma Baad" on the summit, he said the summit was launched out of the conviction of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah that there was a need to arrive at an Arab renaissance that would include all aspects of Arab cooperation in the economic and social fields and allow Arab citizens to live a decent life.
He added that "we, as media people, look forward to the results of this unprecedented specialized summit, which came as a result of an intellectual outlook for the future that emphasizes the need for a discussion of all crucial issues that mean a lot in all walks of life in the Arab world." Sheikh Mubarak said that if one looked back a year to when His Highness the Amir launched the initiative for holding the summit, one would realize that Sheikh Sabah -- with his wisdom and craftsmanship as a head of state -- saw that the Arab world must act ahead to face any crisis or economic challenges.
The current financial crisis, said Sheikh Mubarak, was proof of the accurate vision of His Highness the Emir and his perfect analysis of events.
His Highness the Amir, said Sheikh Mubarak, was convinced that this crisis represented serious future dangers that called on us as Arabs to reassess our economic and social plans.
Sheikh Mubarak expressed his belief that the Arabs had no alternative at this stage but to cooperate and to deal with the situation in transparence and frankness, stressing that the Arab world had the resources and potential as well as expertise to so. What the Arab world lacks, he said, was the enforcement of cooperation and confidence so that we could move from a solid ground that would set a roadmap that would set the ways and means of how to deal with new developments and challenges.
KUNA's chief also expressed his conviction that Arab leaders were aware of the needs of the Arab people and that they were working for progress and prosperity through Arab cooperation in all fields as a means to reach complimentarity.
Sheikh Mubarak noted that reinforcing economic cooperation was the real guarantor to achieve security for the Arab people.
He added that Kuwait had taken successful steps in this direction under the stewardship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
He noted the visits of His Highness the Prime Minister to a number of Arab countries, which aimed at developing existing relations and to exchange expertise in line with the outlook of His Highness the Amir on the importance of achieving Arab solidarity in all fields.
KUNA's chairman added in his article that "while we have high hopes for the forthcoming summit, as the first of its kind, it is also hoped that all efforts are exerted to that effect, including that of the media." He added that Arab media was called upon to take the initiative and contribute in an effective manner in monitoring and influencing the implementation of the summit's recommendations and to activate its results in a way that would be fruitful for Arab interests in the coming stage, which was considered a historic transition and crucial one in Arab history.
He stressed that Arab media had reached a level of maturity as well as expertise and had many excellent professionals and played an important role in many crucial events.
Sheikh Mubarak said that Arab media was an important tool to bring together Arab people and to instill the spirit of cooperation, solidarity and collective work.
He added that Arab media had the potential of highlighting the positive economic aspects in Arab development plans and forthcoming projects.
It is also tasked, he added, with delivering the truth and events with objectivity.
Sheikh Mubarak said he was convinced that cooperation was the way forward to achieve Arab goals and aspirations.
However, he added, that each of us had a duty to fulfill, and collective work was the road to success.
Sheikh Mubarak thanked the editorial team of Ma Bad -- a publication of the Association of UN Civil Servants (AFICS) in Egypt -- spearheaded by Ambassador Mervat Tallawy, AFICS chair, for the production of this special edition covering many aspects of interest for the Arab people as related to the next Economic, Social and Development Summit in Kuwait. (end) hn.ema KUNA 101133 Jan 09NNNN