Arab Summit Opens on Issues of Palestinian Uprising, IraqThe 13th Arab summit opened Tuesday to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, prospects of the Mideast peace process, Iraq-Kuwait relations and inter-Arab economic integration.Fifteen heads of state or government from the 22-member Arab League are attending the two-day summit, with the seven other states being represented by senior representatives. Jordanian King Abdullah Bin Hussein chaired the opening session. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in his keynote speech 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. Mubarak said that the 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. Meanwhile, Mubarak 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 economic cooperation, he underline the construction of infrastructure and proposed holding an Arab economic summit in Cairo in November. In his speech, Jordanian King Abdullah bin Hussein called for Arab unity and joint Arab action in coping with the challenges the Arab nation is facing. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity Salim Ahmed Salim, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud also addressed the opening session. The Amman summit is the first regular summit since it was decided at the emergency Arab Summit in Cairo last October to become an annual event. |
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