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Arabs'' eyes focused on Arab Eco. Summit in Kuwait

KUWAIT, Jan 17 (KUNA) -- Arabs will be closely following a major event in Kuwait on Monday and Tuesday, the first-of-a-kind Arab Economic and Social summit will be held in the north Gulf state, described as "very serious" and would produce important resolution to be easily followed within a certain mechanism.
Arab countries are expecting the two-day summit, which was called by Kuwait two years ago, to be very serious following comprehensive preparations by specialists from a variety of economic sectors.
Kuwait deputy prime minister, foreign minister and acting oil minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Al-Sabah said what make the economic summit special was that it would address daily concerns of the Arab citizens like poverty, hunger, health, education, railway network and electricity linkage.
Sheikh Mohammad said His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah hoped, when he proposed the summit in 2007, that the meeting would be held in better circumstances, but the Arab countries "are capable of confronting hardships.
Sheikh Mohammad was referring to the political and security developments in the region.
The Israeli barrage against Gaza will be discussed in the first session of the Arab Economic Summit.
The Arab leaders will be discussing two draft resolutions which include showing support for the Palestinian people through establishing a fund for the reconstruction of Gaza, coupled with a call for a ceasefire, opening of border crossings, lifting the siege, urging the UN Security Council to make Israel stop its aggression and backing the Egyptian ceasefire initiative.
Kuwait has been a bee-hive. Politicians placing final touches for the January 19-20 summit and journalists trying to keep up with the flow of information coming out of the events ahead of the summit as well as impacts of regional events on the meeting.
The summit is expected to produce key resolutions dealing with the development of education, improving health care, fighting unemployment and poverty, establishing the custom union, linking the Arab countries networks of roads and railways, as well as food and water security.
All Arab League countries are expected to attend the summit. UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, who will be in Kuwait for the meeting, had appreciated Kuwait's initiative to host the summit.
The summit will be held at a time the globe was suffering from the financial meltdown in which the Arabs suffered some USD 2.5 trillion within four months only.
Summiteers will be also considering canceling or delaying development projects. (end) rd.bs KUNA 180000 Jan 09NNNN