Roundup: Arab states vow to fight against terrorism, support Palestine

Arab states have reiterated their commitment to jointly fight terrorism and support "territorial integrity of the member states" at a summit in Mauritania.

The 27th edition of the Arab League Summit ended on Monday in Mauritania with the adoption of a document dubbed "Nouakchott Declaration."

The declaration summarized recommendations and commitments focusing on the fight against terrorism in the Arab world, the Palestine issue, development and cooperation between member states of the Pan-Arab organization.

The statement reaffirmed the need to "harmonize efforts by Arab states to defeat the scourge of terrorism that continues to expand, and also fight all forms of extremism."

Although it was on the initial agenda, the issue of setting up a joint military force did not feature in the final recommendations.

The document pointed out that the Palestine issue remains a priority for all Arab countries, and its resolution is a major factor for stability and peace in the sub-region.

It noted that all Arab countries will continue to support the "fight of the Palestinian people in the face of occupation and systematic aggression from Israel."

The declaration said the Arab countries favoured the resolution of the Palestinian problem with respect to the 1967 boundaries.

FEWER LEADERS ATTENDED THE SUMMIT

Only eight presidents, out of the 22 within the Arab League, attended the 27th edition of the Arab League Summit that was held for only one day, instead of the scheduled two days, in Nouakchott.

Besides Syria, which is suspended from the organization, 13 other leaders were represented by their respective government ministers.

Those present included heads of state of Qatar, Kuwait, Sudan, Libya, Djibouti, Somalia, Comores and Yemen.

The leaders took turns to address the summit, promising to support the resolution of the Palestinian conflict and boost cooperation between the League's member states.

Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno, who had been invited as a guest, called for broader cooperation between the African Union and the Arab League, especially in anti-terror war.

"Terrorism is the biggest challenge facing the world, and one that continues to threaten security and stability of a number of countries, putting at risk the lives of the population," Deby Itno said.

The Chadian president equally invited Arab investors to "take advantage of the opportunities presented on the African continent in order to contribute to the continent's economic development."

PROMOTION OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

The "Nouakchott Declaration" that was read out by the Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit from Egypt, equally emphasized the need for member states to create a favourable environment for economic, cultural and social development of Arab states.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir submitted a proposal in the economic sector, calling for enhanced research to achieve food sufficiency within the Arab world.

"We shall offer land and water for large scale agriculture," he said, calling on investors from the League to support the project to achieve food sufficiency."

Although the 27th Arab League Summit, the first to be organized by Mauritania, was a success in terms of organization, many observers believe there were fewer concrete decisions from the summit. Endit