HM King: Strong, unified stances needed to confront evolving threats

Amman, Mar. 29 (BNA): His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa today delivered a keynote speech at the 28th Arab Summit hosted by Jordan. HM the King extended thanks and appreciation to HM King Abdallah II of Jordan and the Jordanian people for hosting the Arab Summit set to discuss crucial issues that require Arab countries, now more than ever, to unify and strengthen their stances in order to confront threats to the region decisively. HM the King also highlighted the "important role played by Jordan to champion Arab crucial causes and consolidate regional and global peace," wishing the Hashemite kingdom further success. HM the King praised the "dedicated efforts exerted by the Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz in presiding over the previous Arab Summit," lauding the close follow-up of the Arab League Secretariat-General, led by Ahmed Aboul Gheit, on the implementation of the resolutions of the last Arab summit, and thanking all its staff for the good preparation for the current summit. "This summit asserts the sincere will of our countries to provide all kinds of support to our brethren who face challenges and threats to their security or suffer from interference in their domestic affair,s which prevents them from enjoying their full stability," HM the King said. HM King Hamad affirmed that the attacks by terrorist groups top threats and challenges to the integrity and safety of Arab societies and dangers to people's lives, which requires more serious work to continue confronting those organisations and eliminating them through drying up their funding resources and stopping the proliferation of their extremist ideology. "This is the best way to overcome the tendentious attempts by some countries and parties which seek to undermine our national security, harm the interests of our Nation, as well as to undermine the sovereignty of our countries and impede their progress," HM the King added. "It is important in this regard to renew our call for the Islamic Republic of Iran from this platform to be committed to the principles of good-neighbourliness, and the need to respond positively to the endeavours of brotherly United Arab Emirates (UAE) to resolve the issue of the three UAE islands through direct negotiations or recourse to the International Court of Justice, reiterating our firm stance in rejecting Iran's continued occupation of these islands and our full-fledged support to the UAE's right to have sovereignty over them." Referring to the situation in Syria, HM the King expressed deep sorrow over the continued suffering of the Syrian people whose conditions, he said, are deteriorating daily despite the efforts being made to reach a consensual comprehensive political deal. "This requires the international community to step up its efforts in order to work out a solution that would be accepted by all the Syrian citizens to preserve Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, prevent foreign interference in its affairs, restore security and stability to the country so as to rise up again, with the participation of all its citizens," HM the King said. HM King Hamad stressed the need for the cease-fire across Syria to hold on and the need for carrying on the efforts aimed at facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Syrian people, appreciating in this regard, the efforts being exerted by Arab countries, especially Jordan, in taking care of the brotherly Syrian refugees in order to alleviate their sufferings and provide them with the requirements of decent life. Referring to the situation in Yemen, HM the King asserted that "Yemen's unity, restoration of its security and stability and preventing external interference in its affairs top the priorities of the Arab Coalition. The commitment of all parties and political powers to placing the higher interests of Yemen above all others, and the respect for its legitimacy represented by HE President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and his government are essential prerequisites for any comprehensive and fair political solution. We also commend the diplomatic efforts exerted by the UN through the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed in this regard." On Iraq, HM the King said that he was looking forward to doing all that is necessary so that brotherly Iraq could restore its stability and protect its affairs from external interference, in order to regain its strategic role in defending Arab causes and interests, wishing success for the efforts being made by Iraq to regain control over all its territory and eliminate all terrorist organisations posing a threat to its sovereignty. Concerning Libya, HM King Hamad reiterated Bahrain's backing for all efforts to strengthen the country's unity, territorial integrity, stability and national institutions, away from any external interference. HM the King asserted that "achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the region will remain directly related to the Palestinian people regaining their legitimate rights of establishing their independent national state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and through ending the Israeli occupation of all Palestinian territories, stopping all settlement activities, and upholding commitment to all legitimate resolutions and initiatives, whether regional or international, that affirm our adherence to the two-state solution as one of the fundamentals that can never be waived." HM the King stressed that threats to the Arab nation have impacts on the economy and on development, which requires adopting suitable mechanisms such as the "Economic Summit" to devise integrated work strategies that would strengthen cooperation and complementarity among Arab countries to ensure a continued sustainable development across the Arab world. This can be done through projects that cover the fields of energy, transportation, information and communication technology, food security, health care, environment protection and others, HM the King said, adding that focus on increasing the use of renewable energy and investment in it will directly contribute to securing the energy needs of Arab countries, as well as to diversifying power sources and ensuring their sustainability, which will preserve the long-term needs of the future generations. HM King Hamad said that despite the gravity of the challenges and threats to the region, the Arab nation boasts rich human and intellectual resources, a distinguished civilisational status, a historical depth, an outstanding strategic location and diverse natural resources, which will enable it to maintain its status, preserve its capabilities, build its future and achieve aspirations for prosperity and welfare. HM the King expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to the Jordanian King and people for hosting the Arab summit, as well as for the gracious welcome and generous hospitality accorded to the delegations. HM King Hamad expressed hope that the resolutions of the 28th Arab Summit would contribute to protecting shared Arab interests as well as Arab unity and common destiny.