Nawab Khan (With photos)
BRUSSELS, Jan 14 (KUNA) -- A British Member of the European Parliament Sajjad Karim stressed Wednesday the importance of the first Arab economic summit in Kuwait next week to boost Arab economic integration.
"In the current economic climate it is something to be encouraged to see states working together and of course countries which geographically are close to one another and tied to each other culturally, economically, socially through people and religion," Karim told KUNA in an interview.
It is very important, he said, that Arab countries are able to work as close together as it is possible and particularly in the current economic climate it is more necessary than it has been before.
Karim was the first British Muslim elected to the European Parliament in 2004.
He is a member for the EP Delegation for Relations with the Gulf States and has travelled to Kuwait and other Gulf countries to address issues concerning both international trade and regional security.
"Kuwait has always been one of the Arab countries that has been at the forefront wanting to build closer relations between the GCC countries," noted Karim.
"To see it taking the lead in forging ever closer links between the GCC countries and other Arab nations in the current economic climate is something to be welcomed," said the Member of the European Parliament.
Kuwait is in the part of the world which has seen a lot of economic progress over the past few years particularly with the boom in oil prices, he said.
Referring to the situation in Gaza, Karim said the Kuwait summit should and will discuss Gaza.
"One of the things that has been missing on the international agenda has been a very powerful and strong voice of the Arab nations. It hasnt been there in the way as it needs to be," he added. (end) nk.tg KUNA 141749 Jan 09NNNN