Foreign ministers of Arab nations discussed during their consultative meeting in Beirut, a range of regional crises, with emphasis on food security and the impacts of Ukraine war on the Arab countries.
Praising the tone and atmosphere of the meeting, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib said the meeting was a complete success and drew broad participation.
“The transparent, highly responsible and substantive discussions led to consensus on a host of regional and international issues,” he said at a joint press conference with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmad Abul-Gheit.
“We felt amity and solidarity from all participants towards Lebanon, which is undergoing challenging economic conditions,” Bou Habib said.
“All of them hope to see the Lebanese economy recovering as early as possible; their participation in the meeting at this time sent a message of support to Lebanon,” the minister said.
The discussions dealt with the need to continue support to Lebanon, improve the living conditions of the Lebanese people and realize the objectives of the Kuwaiti initiative for Lebanon, Bou Habib said.
He said that he raised during the meeting the need of finding a new solution to the crisis of Syrian refugees other than funding their stay in Lebanon.
On Palestine, Bou Habib said the meeting discussed the Israeli occupation, which undermine the possibilities of fair and comprehensive peace based on the two-state vision.
Regarding food security, the meeting pondered over the risks of famine in Somalia due to drought and reached a consensus on offering emergency assistance to the Arab country to alleviate the suffering of the people there, Bou Habib said.
As for the war in Ukraine, the top Arab diplomats were unanimous in rejection of any politicization of international organizations against the backdrop of this conflict, he added.
Abul-Gheit said the just-ended consultative meeting took place between two regular formal meetings of the Arab League’s Council in March and September.
“The meeting reviewed preparations for the coming Arab Summit and the impacts of the war in Ukraine on Arab countries in such areas as food security and energy,” he said.
They held discussions on how to help Lebanon recover from the current difficulties and support it in the talks with the IMF, he added.
Asked on the Lebanese-GCC ties, Abul-Gheit said there is a good progress which signals the shared desire to normalize the relations.