The Arab League (AL) council wrapped up its 128th session at foreign ministers level Wednesday evening at the AL headquarters, vowing to challenge pressing Mideast issues.
Some important topics, among which the Iraq issue, the situation in Lebanon and a U.S.-proposed international conference on Mideast peace, were high on the agenda of the AL council meeting.
Talking about the Iraqi issue, AL Secretary General Amr Moussa told the meeting that there must be an Arab-Iranian cooperation regarding Iraqi issue.
The foreign ministers agreed with Moussa, highlighting the importance of enhancing dialogue between Arabs and Iran, particularly between Iraq and Iran, on regional cooperation.
Following the meeting, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari revealed Wednesday evening that the foreign ministers approved two draft resolutions to probe means of helping resolve Iraqi crisis and the refugees in neighboring countries, especially in Syria and Jordan.
An account will be opened for helping Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, Egypt's official MENA news agency quoted Zebari as saying.
In addition, Zebari urged the Arab countries to promote diplomatic presence in the war-torn country, noting that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had sent diplomatic officials recently to probe means of setting up embassies in his country.
The Arab foreign ministers also probed the stance of the Arab world on the U.S.-proposed international peace conference on Mideast, which was said to be held in November in Washington.
Moussa stressed in a press conference after the meeting that the U.S.-brokered peace conference should be serious, the intentions should be clear and steps should result in building confidence.
Arabs should not allow the international conference on Mideast peace to be a photo opportunity only, he told the session of the AL council earlier in the day.
If the conference was only a photo opportunity, it would not only be profitless, but also mar Arab national interests, he added.
As for the participation of Syria in the Mideast meeting, the Al chief said Syria should be invited as it was invited to attend previous international meeting on regional issues.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit also expressed that the U.S.-brokered Mideast conference should be an important opportunity for reviving peace talks if it is well-prepared.
Earlier in the day, the AL fact-finding committee on Gaza Strip developments and the Arab peace initiative committee held closed- door meetings respectively prior to the opening of the AL council session, according to MENA.
The Arab peace initiative committee evaluated efforts exerted to promote the initiative and to take future steps, while probing the stance of the Arab world on the U.S.-proposed international peace conference on Mideast.
During their one-day meeting, the Arab foreign ministers also tackled the Lebanese political crisis, stressing solidarity with Lebanon.
In a resolution approved by them, the AL voiced its political and economic support to the Lebanese government for the stability and security of the country.
The pan-Arab bloc also expressed its support to the Lebanese government to fight against terrorist groups in the country, referring to Fatah al-Islam rebels in northern Lebanon.
Source: Xinhua
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