Opening this session, Mr. Mezouar indicated that the new session of the Council will be an opportunity to lay the groundwork for addressing ways to respond to the major challenges that the Arab nation is facing today, in light of the continued violence and extremism phenomena that threaten the stability of States.
In order to face this situation, it has become necessary to make the Arab League able to cope, as a Group, with the changes taking place in today’s Arab world, said the Minister, calling for adopting a new approach to tackle the Arab issues, to resolve conflicts and to progress towards the future.
Mr. Mezouar has, in this regard, noted that the current session of the Arab League Council, takes place in a context when the Palestinian cause is witnessing a ‘turning point’ because of the Israeli practices aimed at undermining efforts to revive the peace talks process, between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and the escalation of unprecedented Israel’s settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Minister noted, in this context, the continuing land expropriation, assets confiscation, and besieging Palestinian cities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, including the isolation of the Al-Qods Holy City from its Palestinian territory, in an attempt to undermine its religious and cultural identity, thereby clearly violating all UN resolutions, in a serious provocation to the religious feelings of Arabs and Muslims.
Such behaviours affirm that Israel is only relying on the time factor to impose its settlement policy on the powerless Palestinian people, and to seek to hamper the peace negotiations process, on which « we rely to end the Israeli occupation, and to establish an independent State of Palestine, with Al-Qods as its Capital », he said.
Regarding the Syrian crisis, Mr. Mezouar noted that the latest developments of the situation in Syria has resulted in unprecedented tragedies in the Arab world, which further undermines the efforts of the Arab countries and the international community to reach a solution to the conflict in the short-term, highlighting the feeling of disappointment from the 2nd Geneva Conference, which was followed by negotiations between the Syrian regime and the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces.
The Minister has, besides, noted that the most recent UN Security Council resolution has been a positive ‘turning point’ in dealing with the human dimension of the crisis, in that it requests the lifting of the siege on the Syrian cities, stopping attacks on civilians, and facilitating the entry of humanitarian convoys, while considering the possibility of taking additional measures in case of impeding these operations.
The Minister has also warned against the alarming spread of the extremism and terrorism phenomena, which have cross-border dimensions, expressing his conviction that the challenge of terrorism is difficult to face, and thus requires the laying of a solid foundation for an effective cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral levels.
The presence of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD’s) in the Middle East is yet another serious threat, which might jeopardize the future of the region and the World, according to Mr. Mezouar, who further emphasized on making more efforts to prevent the spread of these weapons, to achieve a global security.
The Minister reiterated, in this context, the commitment of Morocco to promote disarmament as a strategic choice reflecting its commitment to the values of peace, security and the principle of peaceful settlement of conflicts, while highlighting the importance of accession by all countries in the Middle East, to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards agreements, to ensure the success of the International Conference For A Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)-Free Middle East.
The work of the 141st session of the Arab League Council will address various aspects of the pan-Arab action at the political, economic, social, administrative, and financial security levels.
The session will also focus on the report of the Secretary General of the Arab League on the development of this Organization, and on the draft Agenda of the forthcoming Arab Summit, scheduled on 25 and 26 March 2014, in Kuwait, and on the revision the draft Statutes of the foreseen Arab Court of Human Rights.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
