Aoun Warns on Refugee Burden, Urges End to 'Wars among Brothers' Arab Leaders Denounce 'Foreign Interference' 28/3/2017 (Translation of this article appears in Arabic section) Dead Sea in Jordan - M. E. TIMES: Arab leaders meeting at a summit in Jordan denounced "foreign interference" in their affairs, in reference to Iran, and called for the settlement of conflicts that are tearing the region apart. 
As at previous summits, the leaders of the 22-member Arab League criticized Iran, but without naming the Shiite-dominated main regional rival of Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia. "We reject any intervention in the internal affairs of Arab countries," they said in a declaration at the end of their one-day meeting in the Jordanian town of Sweimeh on the Dead Sea coast. In their statement, they also called for a revival of "serious and productive peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians" and renewed their commitment to a two-state solution. Since taking office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals over how his administration will address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including a break with decades of U.S. policy by saying he would be open to a one-state solution if it meant peace. President Abbas Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the leaders he would refuse to accept "temporary or regional" attempts to solve the conflict. 
Abbas, who met on the sidelines of the summit with Trump adviser Jason Greenblatt, is expected to visit the White House next month. AL Chief Arab League head Ahmed Abul Gheit told the summit he regretted the fact that member states were watching "events in Syria without the possibility of intervening," calling the conflict "shameful." 
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said it was "regrettable that certain powers are benefiting from the unprecedented situation in the region to bolster their influence and expand their control" -- in apparent reference to Iran. Iran is also accused of supporting Shiite Huthi rebels fighting government forces who have been backed by a Saudi-led Arab military coalition since 2015. of President Bashar Assad, whose country's participation in the Arab League has been suspended since 2011. While some say Assad must stand down in any peace deal, others, including Sisi, have not insisted on his departure as a condition for a political agreement. The divisions have allowed other nations including Iran, Russia and Turkey to take the initiative. "Arab and Muslim countries must unite their efforts to combat terrorism," Jordan's King Abdullah II told the summit. Arab Summit Backs Right of Lebanese to 'Resist' The Arab League backed the right of the Lebanese to “resist” any Israeli attack and called on all countries in the world to offer support to the Lebanese army. The Arab Summit “welcomes the election of General Michel Aoun as president of the Lebanese republic as a decisive step that guarantees Lebanon's ability to confront the pressing political, security, economic and social challenges,” said a paper issued by the League and titled “Solidarity with Lebanon”. It also welcomed the content of Aoun's presidential oath of office in terms of “adherence to the Lebanese people's unity and civil peace, which would keep it safe from the blazes raging around it in the region.” The League also lauded Aoun's call for “respecting the Arab League charter, especially Article 8,” and his announcement that “Lebanon will endorse an independent foreign policy based on Lebanon's higher interest and respect for international law.” Turning to Lebanon's conflict with Israel, the League stressed “the right of the Lebanese to liberate or retrieve the Shebaa Farms, the Lebanese Kfarshouba Hills and the Lebanese side of the Ghajar village, and their right to resist any attack through the legitimate means.” The League also stressed the importance to “differentiate between terrorism and legitimate resistance against the Israeli occupation, which is a right acknowledged by the international charters and the principles of the international law.” “The act of resistance should not be considered a terrorist act,” the League's Solidarity with Lebanon paper said. The League “backs Lebanon stance in asking the international community to implement U.N. Security Council 1701, which is based on the resolutions 425 and 426, through putting an end once and for all to Israel's violations and threats to its civilian facilities and infrastructure,” the paper adds. The League also welcomed the aid that has been offered by some countries to Lebanon, “topped by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” urging all countries to “enhance the capabilities of the Lebanese army and enable it to perform its missions, seeing as it is the pillar of security, stability and civil peace in Lebanon.” Aoun Warns on Refugee Burden, Urges End to 'Wars among Brothers' President Michel Aoun warned that tiny Lebanon is reeling under the impact of the presence of around two million Syrian and Palestinian refugees on its soil, as he called for an end to the “wars among brothers” in the region. 
“Lebanon, which started to recover after its institutions returned to normalcy, is still haunted by anxiety and concern and it has not yet known relief or reassurance, and today it is addressing your conscience,” Aoun said in a speech at the 28th Arab Summit in Jordan, his first since being elected Lebanon's president. “It is true that the flames raging around it have not reached it, but it is suffering the repercussions and reeling under their burden. We are seeing the misery and pain around us and we are trying to help as much as possible, but when the needed exceeds our capacity, we drown in the burdens and they start to pose a threat to us,” Aoun warned. He noted that today Lebanon is hosting “Syrians and Palestinians whose numbers are equivalent to half of its Lebanese population,” adding that “the numbers are increasing.” “As you know, Lebanon with its nature, small territory and scarce resources is a migration and not a resettlement country,” the president told the summit. He stressed that “alleviating the misery of the displaced and their salvation from the harshness of their mandatory migration, in addition to sparing Lebanon the social, economic, security and political repercussions, can only be achieved through their safe return to their homeland.” Turning to the situations in the region, Aoun said “Lebanon through its good ties with all the brotherly countries expresses its full readiness to help in bridging the differences and reviving the language of dialogue, because we as Lebanese went through various forms of wars that only ended through dialogue.” “This critical period obliges us to decide today to end the wars among brothers -- which have many military, economic, journalistic and diplomatic forms – and to sit around the dialogue table in order to specify and respect the legitimate vital interests of each party, or else we will all pay the price of a solution that will be soon imposed on us,” Aoun went on to say. He urged Arabs to “take an effective initiative that can influence the events, stop the bloodbaths and put out the raging blaze.” The Arab League's “role today is to reunite Arabs and find fair solutions in the burning countries in order to immunize the Arab world in the face of the current period's challenges and threats,” the president added. Kuwait Amir: Kuwait to continue alleviating suffering of afflicted people His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has said that Kuwait will continue its efforts to alleviate suffering of the people hit by catastrophes and wars. 
The world is suffering "crises, catastrophes and internecine wars" that have cast shadow on the humanitarian conditions of several peoples, both on the regional and international scenes, His Highness the Amir told the 28th Regular Arab Summit in Jordan. His Highness the Amir added that Kuwait has been working with the international community to lessen the suffering of these peoples and will continue fulfilling its humanitarian responsibilities. Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir indicated that the world's inaction towards the crisis in Syria would not lead to fruitful results for the Syrian people. The international community needs a strong resolve to bring upon a political resolution to the crisis, said the Kuwaiti leader who took the chance to laud efforts by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the lattter's Special Envoy to Syria Steffan De Mistura, as well as former leader of the UN Ban Ki-Moon for their efforts in this regard. His Highness Sheikh Sabah thanked the countries hosting the Syrian refugees - namely Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, and Turkey - for their outstanding humanitarian efforts, affirming that they had made a difference on the ground. UN Chief says two-state solution only way UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the two-state solution was "the only solution" that would guarantee security and peace and a decent life for peoples of the region. 
In a speech, at the 28th Arab summit in Jordan, Guterres stressed the need to stop any unilateral steps toward a two-state solution, expressing his understanding of the despaired Palestinian people. Guterres highlighted latest developments in the Arab region and specifically mentioned Iraq's question, expressing his welcome for the progress made in restoring territories from that the so-called Islamic state (IS) organization. On Syria, the UN chief has welcomed any coalitions that seek to preserve, maintain peace, restore stability and development to the troubled nation, stressing that it is time to end the conflict in Syria and that the Geneva negotiations must lead to tangible results. Guterres has also pointed to new realities the world is witnessing due to terrorism; stressing that Muslims themselves are victims of these terrorist acts. The UN chief addressed as well the refugee crisis, expressing personal distress that refugees and immigrants have been barred from reaching some developed countries. AL General Secretary The Secretary-General expressed hope for a new future for the region in order to solve its problems through dialogue and expressed his aspiration to strengthen cooperation with the Arab League.
Meanwhile, in the following speech at the opening session, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed AbulGheit affirmed League's ability to be "a joint and fruitful leader" for making Arab achievements. He also warned of employing sectarianism in a way to achieve political gains contrary to Arab interest, which they will confront and address. The Arab League chief stressed the importance of preserving the national state, indicating that the current Arab situation is not yet qualified to enter into any long-term arrangements for regional security in the light of the imbalance of power. AbulGheit also said "Israel is still determined to occupy Palestinian lands, and continues carelessly with settlement construction and Judaization. EU policy chief highlights need of lasting Mideast peace High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said there is a permanent need for a lasting and comprehensive peace between the Palestinians and Israelis. 
A peaceful solution to the conflict is a top priority for the EU, Mogherini said in a speech to the 28th Arab summit here. The two-state solution is the realistic way to end the conflict "and we know that any changes in the 1967 borders must be negotiated, especially with regard to Jerusalem," she added. She stressed the commitment by the international community to this goal in cooperation with the US, explaining that the Arab Peace Initiative "has a central role and translated into actions that will constitute a framework for peace. EU Policy chief also called on all to cooperate through a participatory methodology and open new channels between continents and peoples to meet the challenges and difficulties of today, which includes the conflict in Syria. On Iraq, she said that the restoration of stability in Iraq and the defeat of the so-called Islamic State (IS) was possible, including the reconstruction of institutions in liberated areas, noting that the European Union will remain committed to supporting Iraq. On the situation in Yemen, Mogherini said that the EU is "determined" to continue to help Yemen and to work for a peaceful political solution and an end to human suffering. On Libya, Mogherini said the solution comes from the Libyan reconciliation agreement, noting that they all must help the Libyans and their efforts. Mohammed bin Rashid Headed UAE Delegation Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, attended the opening session of the 28th Arab Summit, being hosted by Jordan, under the chairmanship of His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. 
H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid is heading the UAE delegation at the pan Arab meeting. Sayyid Asaad takes part in Arab Summit in Jordan Delegated by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, H.H Sayyid Asaad bin Tareq al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan, took part in the 28th Arab Summit. 
H.H Sayyid Asaad bin Tareq al Said met with Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) on the sidelines of the 28th Arab Summit. 
His Highness Sayyid Asaad reviewed ties of cooperation with the UN and all international and regional organisations, as well as the Sultanate’s international relations that aim at achieving security and stability. |
