Arab League Permanent Representatives Preparatory Meeting Opened

Doha, March 23 (QNA) - The meeting of the permanent representatives and senior officials of member countries of the Arab League opened in Doha this morning to prepare for the Foreign Ministers preparatory meeting for the 24th regular session of the Arab Summit, to be held on March 26 and 27. Qatar took over the presidency of the meeting from Iraq, the president of the 23rd session of the Arab Summit. HE Qatar's Ambassador to Egypt and Permanent Representative to the Arab League Said bin Muqaddam al-Buainain underlined that the 24th session of the Arab Summit is being held at a time the Arab region is witnessing political developments that had and still has a huge impact on the aspirations of the Arab people for a better tomorrow and hopefully a brighter future. He affirmed the Arab countries' ability to face the burdens and demands of the current stage through hard work and strong will that can fulfill the aspirations of the Arab peoples to a promising future. He pointed out that the current circumstances surrounding the region requires practical steps towards the adoption of a comprehensive reform program that meets the demands of the peoples in dignity, freedom and social justice. HE Qatar's Ambassador to Egypt and Permanent Representative to the Arab League Said bin Muqaddam al-Buainain reiterated Qatar's support to the Palestinian people in their legitimate right to establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. He also reiterated Qatar's condemnation of all Israeli violations, particularly its settlement activities in Jerusalem, which violates all relevant international resolutions. HE the Minister reaffirmed Qatar's support to the right of Syrian people to recover the dignity and freedom from a regime that has deprived them from all rights approved by his international norms and conventions by repressive and criminal methods that had dangerous and destructive impacts to the Syrian people and territory. Meanwhile, HE the Minister stressed the importance of empowering the Arab League and activate the role of its bodies and organizations to contribute to strengthening the joint Arab action. He expressed hope to enhance coordination, cooperation and solidarity among Arab countries and to overcome all obstacles that would impede the march and disperse objectives, especially at this critical stage. HE the Ambassador pointed out that Arab peoples attaches great importance to the resolutions that will come out from the current summit. He expressed gratitude to Iraq's representative for the efforts exerted during his country's presidency of the Arab summit previous session which contributed to enhance the joint Arab work. He also extended thanks to the Arab League General Secretariat and the Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby for their efforts in promoting the joint Arab action. Iraq's permanent representative to the Arab League Dr. Qais al-Azzawi delivered a speech at the beginning of the meeting, in which he expressed thanks and gratitude to the State of Qatar for the efforts it has exerted to host the 24th regular session of the Arab Summit, and stressed full confidence that its presidency will contribute to promote the joint Arab action. He noted that Iraq, during its presidency of the Arab League 23rd session, was keen to set up a plan to activate the resolutions of the Arab Summit through holding meetings and Arab and international conferences, some of them were stipulated in the decisions of the summit, and others came at an Iraqi initiative aiming at activating the resolutions and the role of the presidency in enhancing the joint Arab work. He expressed hope that the Doha Summit would come out with resolutions that fulfill the aspiration of the Arab people and promote the Arab joint action. Then, Dr. al-Azzawi handed over the presidency of the meeting to Qatar, represented by HE Qatar's Ambassador to Egypt and Permanent Representative to the Arab League Said bin Muqaddam al-Buainain. (QNA)