The Arab foreign ministers held a consultative meeting in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, today, Saturday, during which they discussed the files of the Arab summit to be held in Algeria next November.
Ehab Al-Aqdi, Al-Jazeera correspondent in Beirut, said that each minister presented his country’s vision on a number of Arab issues, without a clear agenda or papers submitted by delegations.
He pointed out that the issue of Palestine and the issue of normalization with Israel, as well as the war in Yemen and the crises in Lebanon, Libya and the Maghreb countries, were all discussed in this closed meeting.
The correspondent explained that this meeting is the third of its kind before the Algiers summit, as the Arab countries seek to bridge the gap among themselves on several issues before the summit.
Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra had described the planned meeting of Arab leaders as a “reunion” summit.
The position on the Syrian regime’s participation in the summit has not yet been decided, pending what the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, will announce.
Aboul Gheit had stated that the preparatory meetings for the 31st Arab Summit in Algeria will be held in the last week of next October at the level of permanent delegates and foreign ministers, before being held at the level of leaders in early November.
The Arab summit was expected in Algeria in March 2020, but the outbreak of the Corona epidemic led to its postponement. The last regular summit of the League of Arab States was held in Tunis in March 2019.
On the other hand, Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati affirmed – prior to the Beirut consultations – that Lebanon is committed to the policy of disassociating itself from Arab disputes and preventing harm to Arab countries and threatening their security.
Likewise, Lebanese President Michel Aoun affirmed – during his meeting with Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah today, Saturday – his country’s commitment to taking the necessary and required measures to enhance cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, according to a statement by the Lebanese presidency.
The statement said that the Foreign Minister conveyed a message from the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, in which he referred to the positive Lebanese interaction with the Kuwaiti initiative to heal the rift with the Gulf countries.
