Delegates hold ministerial level meeting in Jeddah ahead of Arab League summit

Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: Delegates set to participate in the upcoming 32nd Arab League summit held a ministerial level meeting on Wednesday, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said.

The meeting was chaired by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

During the meeting, the ministers discussed the draft agenda of the Arab leaders’ summit this Friday, and considered the draft decisions that will be adopted.

They stressed on the importance of a ceasefire in Sudan to ensure the safety of Sudanese people. The participating delegates reaffirmed that the crisis in Sudan must be treated as an internal matter.

During the meeting, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad confirmed that President Bashar Al-Assad will attend the Arab League summit in Jeddah on Friday.

Speaking at the meeting, bin Farhan joined Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit and the rest of the delegates in welcoming Syria’s return to the Arab League.

The Saudi foreign minister called for Arab unity to confront major global challenges. “We have to invent new ways to meet the challenges facing our countries,” he said.

Algeria’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf expressed concerns over Sudan’s unrest, reiterating Algeria’s support to Saudi Arabia’s effort to reach a ceasefire.

He urged doubling the efforts to support the Palestinian cause until independence is achieved and reiterated Algeria’s backing of efforts that promote peace and stability in Yemen.

“We hope the Lebanese government would reach an understanding to get the country out of its crisis,” said Attaf.

Senior officials and delegates have been arriving in the kingdom on Tuesday to prepare for the upcoming Arab League summit that will be hosted in Jeddah on May 19.