|
Damascus: The current events in the Arab nation call for unifying stands and intensifying consultations to reach unanimous decisions, President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has said, according to WAM.
"This is necessary to stand up to the critical challenges facing our Arab nation in the present and the future," the President said on his arrival in Damascus on Friday to participate in the 20th Arab Summit scheduled to begin today.
"The tragic events in the occupied Palestinian lands and the ongoing Israeli blockade on Gaza and the Palestinian territories, the circumstances in Lebanon and Iraq and the other threats facing many Arab countries endanger their security and stability," Shaikh Khalifa said, listing the challenges.
"Yet I am confident that our Arab nation has enough capabilities and potential to enable us to combat all difficulties and achieve our common goals and interest if we unify our stands," he added.
Shaikh Khalifa was welcomed by Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. Also greeting the President were Syrian Foreign Minister Waleed Al Mua'alem, Amr Mousa, Arab League Secretary General, and other top officials. Shaikh Khalifa and the Syrian President held talks at Damascus airport before heading to his residence.
The President is heading a high-level delegation that includes Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs; Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, and Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade.
Analysts in Damascus said yesterday the strong representation of the UAE and the attendance of Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain in the summit means that the leaders of five of the six Gulf states are not willing to see the Arab house collapse because of internal and external pressures.
But this does not necessarily mean that moderate Arabs will manage to settle their current differences peacefully and politically, Abdul Wahab Badrakhan, writer and news analyst, told Gulf News on Friday.
Badrakhan, who is covering the summit, predicted a regional war aimed at correcting the imbalance against Israel and the US will occur shortly after the summit.
He said the moderates, led by the GCC states excluding Saudi Arabia believe that there are enough disagreements in the Arab world that makes adding another one to it very dangerous and irresponsible at this time.
- With inputs from Duraid Al Baik, Foreign Editor
|
