BEIRUT — The Arab foreign ministers discussed, during their consultative meeting in Beirut on Saturday, a range of regional crises, with emphasis on food security and the impacts of Ukraine war on the Arab countries.
“The transparent, highly responsible and substantive discussions led to consensus on a host of regional and international issues,” Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou-Habib said at a joint press conference with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmad Abul-Gheit.
“We felt amity and solidarity from all participants towards Lebanon, which is undergoing challenging economic conditions.”
“All of them hope to see the Lebanese economy recovering as early as possible; their participation in the meeting at this time sent a message of support to Lebanon,” the minister noted.
The discussions dealt with the need to continue support to Lebanon, improve the living conditions of the Lebanese people and realize the objectives of the Kuwaiti initiative for Lebanon, Bou-Habib said.
He noted that he raised during the meeting the need of finding a new solution to the crisis of Syrian refugees other than funding their stay in Lebanon.
On Palestine question, he said the conferees discussed the abuses of the Israeli occupation authorities which undermine the possibilities of fair and comprehensive peace based on the two-state vision.
Regarding food security, the meeting mulled over the risks of famine in Somalia due to draught and reached consensus on offering emergency assistance to the Arab country to alleviate the suffering of the people there, Bou-Habib went on.
As for the war in Ukraine, the Arab top diplomats were unanimous in rejection of any politicization of international organizations against the backdrop of this conflict, he added.
On his part, Abul-Gheit said the just-ended consultative meeting took place between two regular formal meetings of the Arab League’s Council in March and September.
“The conferees reviewed preparations for the coming Arab Summit and the impacts of the war in Ukraine on Arab countries in such areas as food security and energy,” he noted.
They held good discussions on how to help Lebanon recover from the current difficulties and support it in the talks with the IMF, he revealed.
Asked on the Lebanese-GCC relations, Abul-Gheit said there is a good progress in this relationship which signals the shared desire to normalize the relations. — Agencies