LOC10:25
07:25 GMT
KUWAIT, Jan 19 (KUNA) -- Arab leaders are to hold their Economic, Development and Social summit later on Monday to discuss means of boosting inter-Arab economic and social integration with an active participation of the private sector.
The two-day summit, the first-of-a-kind since the establishment of the Arab League, will have the slogan of "In Solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza," which was later added to the high-level meeting because of the Israeli onslaught against the Palestinian people in the besieged Gaza Strip.
The summit, called by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during the 2007 Arab Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will set up a clear "road map" for Arab economy and all related social and developmental issues.
Leaders of 22 Arab countries will be meeting at critical times with eyes focused on means to helping the Palestinians reconstruct what was devastated by the Israeli war machines in Gaza Strip and, on the other hand, how to address impacts of the global financial crisis.
Leaders of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries held an emergency meeting in Riyadh last Thursday, where Sheikh Sabah stated that the situation in Gaza Strip would top the Economic summit's agenda.
Israel had announced a unilateral ceasefire in line with an Egyptian initiative two days ago to put an end to their three-week barrage which killed over 1,200 Palestinians and injured over 5,300 others.
The Arab leaders, in their summit, are expected to approve a mechanism to make sure that the resolutions are properly implemented.
The summit, described as "very serious" and prepared by specialists from a variety of economic sectors, will address daily concerns of the Arab citizens like poverty, hunger, health, education, railway network and electricity linkage, fighting unemployment, establishing a custom union, food and water security.
UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, who arrived in Kuwait last night for the summit, had appreciated Kuwait's initiative to host the summit. (end) kt KUNA 191025 Jan 09NNNN