‘Arabs need common strategy’

Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Jarwan, Speaker of Arab Parliament, has called for implementing a unified Arab strategy to end the crises and address challenges and risks that threaten Arab national security. He was addressing the opening session of the 27th Arab Summit, which began Monday in the Mauritanian capital.

''The summit is being convened at a time of desperate need of a common united Arab position to tackle challenges and realise aspirations of Arab peoples,'' Al Jarwan said.

He noted that the two-day summit is being held amidst exceptional circumstances that call for confronting tremendous internal and regional challenges, particularly terrorism, which was planted in the region to undermine and disintegrate its fabric.

''The recent cowardly terrorist attacks in a number of Arab countries proved that these deviant groups which are supported by malicious circles aim to plunge the region in a sea of blood, infighting and sectarian strife. This requires from us - leaders and peoples - an immediate, decisive act at security, intellectual, economic and social levels to uproot this menace,'' he emphasised.

Al Jarwan also called for activating the Arab Joint Defence Treaty to confront both internal and external threats.

He strongly condemned terrorist acts which struck a number of European countries, stressing the need for concerted international efforts to counter terrorism.

He added that Arab leaders need to swiftly engage in acts to find drastic solutions to the ongoing crises in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya and Somalia so as to preserve Arab national security and potentials and realise the aspirations of the Arab peoples for development, progress and prosperity.

He said that the Arab peoples called for defining the course of future relations with Iran in light of its continuous interference, its bad intentions towards the Arab Nation and its funding of some groups that seek to destabilise Arab security and stir sectarian sentiment in some Arab countries.

''Continuous and provocative meddling by Iran in Arab affairs, particularly Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, prove that Iran is not a friend to its Arab neighbours,'' he said. He called on Iran to end its occupation of the UAE’s three islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Mousa either through direct negotiation or take the case to the International Court of Justice.

Al Jarwan praised efforts being made by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, other GCC member states and Sudan to restore legitimacy in Yemen and wished success to the ongoing Yemeni peace talks in Kuwait so as to bring back legitimacy, security and stability to the Yemeni people.

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