JEDDAH: The preparatory and ministerial meetings of the 29th Arab League summit began on Thursday in Riyadh where senior Arab officials areÌıdiscussing various political, security, and military developments facing the region.
The SaudiÌıMinister of Foreign AffairsÌıAdel Al-Jubeir said in his opening remarks at theÌıministerial meeting on ThursdayÌıthatÌıPalestine and the situation there will top discussions atÌıthe Arab summit.
He also said that Iran and terrorism are two sides of the same coin, and called on Arab ministers to work together to stop Iran meddling in Arab affairs.Ìı
The Saudi foreign minister praisedÌıSaudi - Iraqi rapprochement and said that RiyadhÌıhas allocated $1.5 billionÌıfor the reconstruction of Iraq.
As part of his speech on the most important challenges facing the Arab world, the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said that 117 Houthi ballistic missiles had been fired at Saudi cities. He addedÌıthat Houthi terrorist acts are destabilizing security and stability in Yemen.
With regards to aid in Yemen, the foreign minister said that º£½ÇÖ±²¥ has funded humanitarian and development programs, in addition toÌıYemen's central bank with over $10 billion over the past three years.
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the Arab LeagueÌıAboul Gheit saidÌıthat the LeagueÌıcondemns Iran's interference in Bahrain and otherÌıcountries inÌıthe region.
The Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit and the Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura met on the sidelines of the Arab foreign minister’s meeting.Ìı
The spokesman for the Arab League’s Secretary-General Mahmoud Afifi said that Aboul Gheit was given a presentation by de Mistura about the latest results of his communications with international and regional parties that aim to allow political negotiations between Syrian parties to recommence in Geneva under the auspices of the United Nations. They also discussed his political and military assessment of the recent escalation of the crisis in Syria.Ìı
Jordan and Egypt signed the agreement on the liberalization of trade in services among Arab states at the inaugural ministerial meeting of the economic and social council of the 29th Arab summit.
The agenda of the summitÌıwill be set out during the preparatory meeting where the foreign ministers of the 22 countries are meeting.
The Arab League summit will be hosted inÌıDammam, º£½ÇÖ±²¥ on Sunday.
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