EU, Arab League pledge to deepen partnership

BRUSSELS, Feb 4 (KUNA) -- The European Union and the Arab League concluded their fifth ministerial meeting in Brussels Monday by stressing their commitment to deepen the Euro-Arab partnership to build peace and stability in the region and worldwide.
"It was a good exchange, very frank, open and constructive on which I believe we agree on the fact that common ground as there are, I would say, on 95 percent of issues," EU High Representative Federica Mogherini told a news conference after the meeting.
She noted that both sides share a common position on regional crisis, such as political transition in Syria, support on a two-state solution in the Middle East peace process, the recognition of Jerusalem as the future capital of both the state of Israel and Palestine and our common effort to find a solution to the wars in Yemen or the conflicts in Libya.
They also discussed ways to further boost cooperation between the Arab League and EU ahead of the first EU-Arab League summit to be held on 24-25 February in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.
Ministers focused in particular on a number of regional issues, as well as on current global challenges that both Europe and the Arab world are facing, such as terrorism, climate change, migration, and human rights situations.
On his part Mohammad Al Dirdeyri, Chair of the Arab league Ministerial Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sudan, told the joint press conference that the meeting covered wide ranging issues starting from climate change and going all the way to the most difficult issues that "we are facing in our world today including the crisis we are facing in the Middle East, including issue of the Palestine." Ahmad Abul Gheit, Secretary General of the Arab League, said that those who took part in this meeting would realize the "existence of a major consensus from the European and Arab sides on a large range of issues; not only the political issues, the Palestinian question was the subject of contributions by many speakers.
"All those who have taken the floor promised to make further efforts in order to implement the UN security Council resolution and the different initiatives, particularly the Arab initiative as far as this issue is concerned," he said.
Abul Gheit ruled out the return of Syria to the Arab League at the moment saying there was no consensus among Arab states on this issue.
The Kuwaiti delegation to the ministerial was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. (pickup previous) nk.bs