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Arab League Ministerial Meeting Supports Yemen’s Legitimate Government | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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In this Jan. 10, 2016 file photo, Arab foreign ministers attend an emergency Arab League session in Cairo, Egypt. (AP Photo Ahmed Omar, File)


Cairo–Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit called for an Arab initiative to resolve the crisis in Syria.

Addressing the Arab foreign affairs ministers at the Arab League Ministerial Meeting in Cairo on Wednesday, Abul Gheit stressed the need to deploy all possible efforts to restore legitimacy and stability in Syria, noting that instability in any Arab country would greatly weaken the Arab League as a whole.

On the Yemeni file, Abul Gheit said that the league only supports President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi’s government, adding that no armed group would succeed in imposing its control over Yemen.

He also expressed the Arab League’s readiness to undertake any mediation or sponsorship of peace talks to resolve the crisis in the war-torn country.

Regarding the crisis in Libya, Abul Gheit stressed his support to the national unity government, adding that the current government should receive Parliament’s confidence in order to boost the chances of a comprehensive settlement of the Libyan conflict.

The Arab League secretary general also praised the Libyan government’s progress in liberating the city of Sirte from ISIS control.

Commenting on Iraq, Abul Gheit strongly rejected Iran’s blatant interference in Iraqi internal affairs, which has led to sectarian tensions and conflicts.

Meanwhile, U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura apologized for not attending the ministerial meeting as scheduled, as he was following up on the U.S.-Russian talks that are currently led by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva.

The U.N. special envoy was expected to present a report on international efforts regarding the Syrian crisis.

The Ministerial Council issued a statement condemning the hostile statements of the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. The statement emphasized that the tendentious accusations, allegations and campaigns by Iran were contrary to the values and principles of Islam.

The Council discussed a number of topics on Arab action, particularly the development and reform of the Arab League mechanisms, consultations on the Palestinian issue, and developments of the situation in Syria, Libya, Yemen, as well as Iran’s occupation of the three Arab islands belonging to the United Arab Emirates.

Arab foreign ministers also discussed Iran’s interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries and ways of maintaining Arab national security and counter-terrorism.