LOC17:39
14:39 GMT
The 29th Arab Summit
DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia, April 15 (KUNA) -- Regional and international figures, partaking in the 29th Arab Summit, affirmed Sunday the importance of bolstering cooperation and partnership with the Arab world.
Speaking to the event -- dubbed as the Jerusalem Summit -- Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Yousef Al-Othaimeen said that having stability and security would allow for development plans in the Arab world to flourish.
Fighting all kinds of terrorism in the region and the world is paramount for development plans, reiterated the OIC Secretary General, indicating that regional threats, such as the Houthi militia's missile attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, were counterproductive for the region's welfare.
Al-Othaimeen touched on the issues of Palestine and Syria, affirming that the OIC was eager to end the Palestinians struggle against the Israeli occupiers. The OIC also was willing to see a peaceful resolve to the Syrian crisis, he added.
On his part, Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki said that the AU and the Arab League were willing to pursue more cooperation within the region to benefit both Arab and African citizens.
He indicated that as the Arab world suffers from terrorism and external interferences in its affairs, the African continent also was plagued by the same problems.
It is essential to resolve problems facing the AU and the Arab League to continue seeking cooperation and bolstering of ties between the two sides, said the official.
Meanwhile, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said that the Arab region had been facing conflicts for a long time, stressing that it was time for the Middle East to seek its true goals in development and welfare.
She called for bolstering cooperation between the EU and the Arab League to bring peace between Israelis and Palestinians and allow for the two state solution to come into existence.
In regards to the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria, Mogherini said that there should be a joint effort by the international community to bring those responsible to justice. (end)
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