LOC11:46
08:46 GMT
KUWAIT, Jan 16 (KUNA) -- Gaza would be given a top priority during the Arab Economic, Development and Social Summit in Kuwait on January 19-20, Kuwait's deputy prime minister and foreign minister said.
"Gaza will be in the heart of the summit due to be held in Kuwait, rather than on its margin or sidelines. It will be in the heart of (Arab) leaders' discussions," Sheikh Mohammad Al-Sabah, also acting Oil Minister, told Al-Arabiya satellite channel on Thursday night.
He quoted all the 22 Arab leaders as having confirmed that they would attend the summit.
"Gaza is having hard days, and so is the Arab world," he said, hailing Arab diplomacy for having the UN Resolution 1860 adopted last week.
On the emergency GCC summit in Riyadh on Thursday, he said it was part of Gulf and Arab efforts to save the Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip.
"I'm very contended with the clarity of the Gulf position in view of support for the (Arab) nation's issues. The Gulf people in general and the rulers in particular cannot hesitate to support the Palestinian people. The GCC cannot give up this issue," he said.
He added that the Arab foreign ministers would meet in Kuwait later Friday to discuss the escalating Israeli aggression on the Palestinian territory.
The Kuwaiti minister pointed out that the Kuwait summit would mainly seek to maintain and prop up Arab national security by means of revamping the health and educational sectors in the Arab world.
He vowed that the summit would come up with a plan to address the "Israeli destruction".
He reiterated his country's rejection of all forms of normalized relations with Israel unless Arab rights were restored.
In this context, he recalled to memory a statement by late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad to former US president Bill Clinton that Kuwait would be the last country to normalize relations with Israel.
The Kuwait summit would decide urgent humanitarian and relief aid to the Israeli-victimized Gazans, he noted.
Sheikh Mohammad hailed the Egyptian initiative aiming to stop the suffering of the Palestinians, but condemned Israel as a war criminal. (end) st.mt KUNA 161146 Jan 09NNNN