Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Arab-Russian Cooperation Tops Meetings between Lavrov, Abul Gheit | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page
Media ID: 55377839
Caption:

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, July 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)


Cairo– Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit will conduct official visits to Russia and Italy this week as part of efforts to promote Arab cooperation with international partners on issues of mutual concern.

The secretary general’s spokesperson, Minister Delegate Mahmoud Afifi, said that Abul Gheit would meet with Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, to discuss latest developments in the Middle East in light of historic and solid relations between Arab countries and Italy.

The Arab League secretary general will also deliver a speech before the 40th Session of the FAO Conference, on the situation in Arab states, in particular efforts to promote the agriculture sector and the means to face urgent problems in some countries, including the growing food gap and water scarcity.

Afifi noted that Abul Gheit would also meet in Rome with FAO Director General Jose Graziano da Silva, to follow-up on cooperation issues discussed during the latter’s visit to Cairo earlier this year.

The secretary general would also give an address during a session on “Water Scarcity and Food Security in the context of climate change”, which will be held on the sidelines of the conference.

On a different note, Afifi said Abul Gheit would conduct an important visit to Moscow on July 5-6, in response to the invitation of Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Abul Gheit and Lavrov are expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss latest developments in the Middle East, in particular the Palestinian file and the ongoing crises in Syria, Libya and Yemen.

The two officials would also tackle ways to promote bilateral cooperation between the Arab states and Russia on the political, economic and cultural fields.