Bahrain attends Arab League meeting

Manama, Sept.9 (BNA): Assistant Foreign Minister Abdulla bin Faisal bin Jabur Al-Doseri, reiterated Bahrain's emphasis on the importance of intensifying efforts, in cooperation with the international community, to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in accordance with the two-state solution that achieves a just and comprehensive peace, and leads to the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative. He also congratulated the United Arab Emirates on reaching the UAE, Israel and USA agreement to stop Israel's annexation of the Palestinian territories, which reflects an important historical step that reduces tension and promotes peace opportunities in the Middle East region. This came in the speech of the Kingdom of Bahrain, which was distributed at the meeting on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, in the virtual meeting of the 154th ordinary session of the League of Arab States Council at the ministerial level. The meeting was held today, through video conference, and chaired by the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the current session of the Arab League Council, Dr. Riyad Al-Malki, in the presence of the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit. Al-Dosari said that the Arab world is facing several threats that impose on the Arab countries the necessity of solidarity in order to protect our countries, our capabilities and our national interests. He cited mainly the scourge of terrorism and extremist organizations, which are still working under the support and funding of countries and regional powers to destabilize our Arab countries, and spread extremism, exaggeration and intolerance in our coexisting peaceful societies. Regarding interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries, he denounced Iran's threats to the stability and security of the region, noting that Iranian interference is taking place in a blatant and dangerous manner in a number of Arab countries through its continuous support for terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah and the terrorist Houthi group, as it provides them with financing, training and the most lethal and destructive weapons, calling for the need to take a firm Arab stance against these Iranian threats. He stated that the Turkish interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries has expanded and revealed their purposes, as Turkey is invading and occupying large parts of the Syrian Arab territories. He said that Turkey continues to support the extremist terrorist factions with equipment and weapons, while provocatively attacking the territory of the Republic of Iraq, and to transfer terrorist militia elements to Libya and supply them with weapons, which threatens Libyan sovereignty and stability, but also endangers the Arab and regional peace and security as well, as it forms a serious threat to the national security of the Arab Republic of Egypt, which is still making sincere efforts to stop the bloodshed in Libya, and to reach a political solution between the conflicting parties. The Council of the Arab League issued decisions that emphasized support for joint Arab action, including benefiting from the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence, and similar centres in Arab countries, that are specialized in combating terrorism and interfaith dialogue. The Council also expressed its condemnation of the continuous Iranian interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, its support for terrorism and training of terrorists, smuggling of weapons and explosives, and provoking sectarian strife and releasing statements at various levels to destabilize security, order and stability. It slammed the harboring of terrorist groups in the Kingdom, which are funded and trained by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the terrorist groups of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq and Hezbollah, adding that this interference is inconsistent with the principle of good-neighbourliness and non-interference in internal affairs, according to the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. The Council affirmed its support for all the measures and steps taken by the Kingdom of Bahrain to combat terrorism and terrorist groups in order to preserve its security and stability, praising the efforts of the security services in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which managed to thwart many terrorist plots and arrest members of terrorist organizations, who are supported by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the Lebanese terrorist Hezbollah. It also welcomed adding members of the terrorist Ashtar Brigades in the Kingdom of Bahrain to the list of terrorists, considering that this position reflects the determination of the countries of the world to confront all forms of terrorism at the regional and international levels, and represents support for the efforts of the Kingdom of Bahrain and its measures to promote its security, stability and peace. The Council also supported re-electing the Kingdom of Bahrain for a number of international posts. In addition, the Council reaffirmed the centrality of the Palestinian question to the entire Arab nation, the Arab identity of the occupied East Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Palestine, and the right of the State of Palestine to sovereignty over all its occupied territories, including East Jerusalem. It also affirmed the adherence to peace as a strategic option, and the solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with international law and relevant resolutions of international legitimacy. The Ministerial Council also issued a statement of solidarity with the Republic of Sudan with the aim of confronting the repercussions of the floods disaster and providing urgent relief in coordination with the Government of Sudan, and a statement of solidarity with the Lebanese Republic in facing the disaster of the Beirut port bombing.