Manama: Iran should put an end to its claims of being the custodian of Shiites even when they are citizens of other sovereign countries, the top official at the Arab League said.
Such a concept considered the sect as more important than the nation, and by adopting it, Iran is in fact following a practice that was prevalent in the Middle Ages and was a recipe for endless wars, Arab League Secretary General Ahmad Abu Al Gheit said at the conclusion of the Manama Dialogue, an annual security conference hosted by Bahrain.
“The region is facing unprecedented chaos with everyone having their own perspectives which prevent any dialogue or agreement,” Abu Al Gheit said.
“Syria is being destroyed, Libya is a failing state and the Iraqi conflict makes it difficult for leaders in the region to reach agreements.”
The official said that the time was not right to form new alliances or set up security architectures.
“We do not know the plans of the US administration, led by president-elect Donald Trump. Is he going to make changes in the Iranian nuclear deal or even withdraw from the region? It will take more than one year for the new US administration to decide on its policy for this region, which means we will continue to suffer with the war in Syria and the conflict in Iraq.”
Abu Al Gheit said the region needed a Marshall plan worth billions of dollars to help it develop.
“We witnessed the wave of Arab Spring and should get ready to face other waves unless a solid plan is discussed,” he said, quoted by media in Bahrain.
Abu Al Gheit added that the Arab League had been ignored in the Syrian case, but it was seeking to build channels with all regional powers.
He said that he was concerned the concept of a two-state solution would gradually vanish.
“I believe the Israelis think it is eternal honeymoon or even paradise for them to see countries like Syria, Libya, Iraq and other Arab nations affected by the conflicts. The problem is that the Israelis do not want to negotiate and my fear is that the concept of a two-state solution will disappear slowly,” he said.
