Mubarak Calls for Arab Unity, Support for PalestiniansEgyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday called for concerted Arab efforts to support the Palestinians against Israel, a more active role of the Arab League, Arab reconciliation and closer inter-Arab economic cooperation.In a keynote speech at the opening session of the 13th ordinary Arab summit, Mubarak said that Arabs should stand side by side with the Palestinians to fight off, by solidified actions,Israeli aggressions, provocations and violations of Palestinian rights, and to provide financial support to the cash-strapped Palestinians. He also called on Arab countries to solve their disputes peacefully and quickly, respect each other's sovereignty and work more closely in the economic sector to pave the way for free Arab trade. He said "the time has come for us to work quickly and effectively toward Arab unity on a clear basis of transparency," and safeguard Arab security interests. On inter-Arab economic cooperation, he underline the construction of infrastructure and proposed holding an Arab economic summit in Cairo in November. The two-day Arab summit opened earlier in the day, and Mubarak and his fellow Arab leaders are expected to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, sanctions against Iraq, Iraqi-Kuwaiti ties as well as Arab economic integration. |
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