MANAMA: Delegated by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, HH Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said,Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs, Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan, headed the Sultanate of Oman's delegation at the 33rd Regular Arab Summit, which was held on Thursday in Manama, the Kingdom of Bahrain, in the presence of a number of leaders of states and heads of governments.
HH Sayyid Asaad was received upon his arrival at the summit venue by King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Speaking at the opening of the conference, King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa said: "(We) call for an international conference for peace in the Middle East, in addition to supporting full recognition of the State of Palestine and accepting its membership in the United Nations."
Later, HH Sayyid Asaad delivered a speech at the opening of the Arab summit reading as follows: “In the name of the Almighty Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Your Majesty, King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Chairman of the 33rd session of the Council of League of Arab States.
Your Majesties, Your Highnesses, Your Excellency, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Esteemed Guests,
Honourable audience, May Peace, Blessings And Mercy of the Almighty Allah Be Upon You!
I am honoured to convey to you all the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Sultan of Oman, along with His Majesty’s sincere wishes of success for this blessed gathering. We deeply appreciate the warm reception and hospitality accorded to us. We also value good preparation for this summit under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman al Khalifa.
We would also like to voice our appreciation for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its constructive efforts in securing the success of the previous Arab summit, under the prudent leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud and his Crown Prince His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Your Majesties, Your Highnesses, esteemed guests: This summit is being convened in exceptional circumstances, at a time the Arab nation is in great need for empowerment to ensure its security, safeguard its geopolitical milieu and to secure its status amid challenges and complications that we cannot overcome individually, but only when acting collectively, even at a minimum level of accord, alliance, collaboration and cooperation, based on a shared strategy and economic capabilities, so that this nation could become capable of confronting a world laden with ambitions, aspirations and objectives.
The historic injustice inflicted on the Palestinian people compels us all to take a stronger, more impactful and a more efficient Arab position that guarantees to the Palestinian people their right to self-determination and their aspiration to a comprehensive global recognition of the Palestinian State. It has to be a stand that applies the highly-desired, long overdue Two-State Solution, in accordance with the United Nations resolution, the Arab Peace Initiative and rules of international law. Without that, our region will never enjoy a lasting peace or sustainable prosperity anticipated by the people of the region and the world at large.
In the meantime, within the context of our historic and ethical responsibility, we exhort the international community to undertake immediate action in this respect and to engage in serious enforcement of criteria of international law, to uphold and realise justice for the Palestinian people and bring about security and stability for all.
We would like to affirm the significance of respecting the policy of good neighbourliness, the sovereignty of states over their territories and non-interference in their internal affairs, as well as respect for peoples’ rights - notably the right to coexist in dignity and independence.
As long as we aspire for justice, we are confident that we will never be let down.
We pray to Allah the Almighty to guide us all to what He loves and approves, for He is the best lord and the best supporter.”
The summit discussed the follow-up of the implementation of decisions and commitments made during its current convening, as well as the Palestinian issue, Arab national security affairs, the unstable conditions in some Arab countries and foreign interventions in the affairs of Arab states.
The summit also covered a review of international political affairs, including the convening of the Second Arab-Chinese Summit and the establishment of the Partnership Forum between the League of Arab States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
The summit also dealt with economic, social, media and legal affairs, climate change issues, the amended Arab Human Rights Strategy (first periodic review of 2024) and the joint Arab media strategy to combat terrorism, means to maintain Arab national security and draft resolutions submitted by the Economic and Social Council, among other issues. - ONA
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