LOC14:56
11:56 GMT
KUWAIT, Jan 18 (KUNA) -- Kuwait will host on Monday the first Arab Economic Summit under the slogan "In Solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza" with the participation of 22 country, with the aim of placing a clear "road map" for Arab economy and all related social and developmental issues.
The two-day summit is being held at a critical time, and comes with an economic dimension given the global economic crisis, as well as the political aspect with the developments in Gaza Strip and the Israeli aggression on Palestinians.
When Kuwait and Egypt launched their initiative some two years back, their leaderships sensed the need for addressing critical economic issues, which was widely welcomed by Arab states.
And despite the fact that the summit will discuss many economic, social and development issues, the issue of Gaza and the global financial meltdown will feature strongly on the agenda.
On Thursday, during the emergency GCC summit in Riyadh, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah said the situation in Gaza Strip would top the summit's agenda in order to halt Palestinian bloodshed and search for mechanisms that allowed the Palestinians to reconstruct what was destroyed by the Israelis, achieve national conciliation, and realize the legal rights of Palestinians for comprehensive peace.
On their part, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa and Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Acting Oil Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah reiterated the fact that Gaza would be a priority at the summit.
The Arab Economic Summit was preceded by a meeting of Arab finance ministers and governors of central banks on Wednesday, a meeting of permanent representatives to the Arab League on Thursday, and a meeting of finance and foreign ministers on Friday.
Meanwhile, the "Private Sector and Civil Society Forum" began yesterday and would conclude today. The forum, which was initiated by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, saw the participation of government officials and representatives of the private sector and civil societies. (end) kt KUNA 181456 Jan 09NNNN