Food security, Palestinian issue to top agenda of Arab League Summit in Algeria

ALGIERS: The Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said here on Saturday that food security and the Palestinian issue will be on the top agenda of the Arab League Summit due on November 1 and 2, reported Xinhua.

In his opening remarks at the proceedings of the foreign ministers' preparatory meeting for the Arab League Summit, Aboul-Gheit urged the Palestinian factions to implement the Algiers Declaration signed two weeks ago in Algiers in a bid to reach real reconciliation.

He further noted that the summit of the Arab League in Algiers "should be a milestone for a brand new joint Arab action."

Given that the summit's top agenda include discussions to address the global and regional food crises, Aboul-Gheit called for concrete measures and strategies to be adopted to achieve and enhance food security in the Arab region.

Algeria on Saturday took over the presidency of the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers from Tunisia in preparation for the Arab League Summit due to take place here in Algiers on November 1 and 2.

The Tunisian Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi symbolically handed over the presidency of the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers to his Algerian counterpart Ramtane Lamamra, who announced the beginning of the proceedings of the foreign ministers' preparatory meeting for the Arab League Summit.

In his opening remarks, Lamamra called for "the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Arab countries and the non-interference in their internal affairs," adding "we count on everyone to make a new start for a joint Arab action at the Algiers Summit."

He further advocated for reconciliation among the Arab countries, noting "we hope that our meetings will be crowned with success, as we are urged to redouble our efforts in a bid to push forward peace and reconciliation among our countries."

The Algerian top diplomat also indicated that the Palestinian issue will be on the top agenda of the Arab League Summit, noting that the recent meeting of the Palestinian factions in Algiers will pave the way for establishing reconciliation ahead of forming a national unity government.

The Arab foreign ministers will hold on Sunday another preparatory meeting as the last step before the convening of the summit meeting.

-- BERNAMA