Terrorism, regional wars and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the Arab League summit
On the program today in Jordan, the annual meeting of Heads of State and Government of Arab nations. Also present were leaders and UN special envoy for Syria. For experts the summit will not provide "key solutions" to real problems in the region. The political system of the Arab world is "weak, divided" and "corroded by years of" vices.
Amman (AsiaNews / Agencies) - War in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya; and again, the fight against "terrorism" and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in a context of increasing violence between the two sides. These are the issues at the annual meeting of Arab leaders, scheduled today in Sweimeh, on the shores of the Dead Sea in Jordan.
A summit which is always highly anticipated, but which experts say will not provide "solutions" to the real problems facing the region.
Among the 22 heads of state and government attending the annual meeting of the Arab League there is also the Saudi King Salman. Likely also the participation of the Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres and UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.
Oraib al-Rantawi, head of the Al-Ques Center for Policy Studies, said that "this summit will be no different than the previous." The Arab political system, he adds, is "weak, divided and is corroded by years of" vices. For this it is "unlikely to expect a breakthrough."
The 22 members of the bloc have repeatedly tried to tackle the main problems of the area, including the Syrian conflict which has entered its seventh year; however, the decisions taken so far have proved to be ineffective and have not served to smooth tensions and divisions.
In recent days, the head of the Arab League Ahmed Abul Gheit called on local leaders to play a "more active role" in trying to find a solution to the war, in the context of the "most serious regional crisis in recent history."
In terms of divisions, it should be emphasized that since the beginning of the conflict Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has not received the invitation to attend the summit. Moreover, several regional powers - including Saudi Arabia and Qatar - supporting the armed opposition fighting the Syrian government. The UN secretary general Guterres renewed his appeal to the warring parties that they may find an agreement ensuring peace in the country.
Another central theme of the talks the fight against the Islamic State, which Arab leaders describe as a "terrorist movement." And yet, the war flared up in Yemen in 2015 and in recent weeks has seen an escalation of violence and civilian casualties. With regard to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Arab leaders are opposed to the decision - so far on paper - of US President Donald Trump to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
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23/01/2019 12:15
