'Don't block the common ground between us'

Damascus: Syria called on Arabs to focus on what combine the Arab nations instead of the factors of disagreement and urged Arab leaders meeting in Damascus to be up to the expectation of their nations.

In a speech, Walid Mua'alem, the Syrian foreign minister, welcomed Arab foreign ministers attending the Ministerial Council Meeting of the League of the Arab Countries on Thursday.

The meeting of the council is meant to discuss the decisions to be endorsed by the Arab leaders in their two-day meeting.

Mua'alem chaired the conference without the protocol handover of the previous chair of the meeting, Saudi Arabia, which was represented by Ambassador Ahmad Abdul Aziz Al Qattan, the Kingdom's representative to the Arab League.

He stressed in his welcoming speech that achieving the objectives of the summit, Arab solidarity and joint actions, is the way to meeting the needs of Arab nations. Mua'alem warned that Arab nations are going through critical situations and called for decisions based on common desires that would help in achieving solidarity and coherence amongst Arab nations.

"We have to achieve the aspirations of the Arab nations in restoration of occupied territories, stability and prosperity in the Arab world," Mua'alem said.

He named three burning issues in the Arab world in addition to a host of other issues to be discussed by the council of the Arab foreign ministers in Damascus. He said the situation in Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq tops the list of the issues to be discussed by Arab leaders and called for swift action in handling them.

"The differences in views among the Arab family should not block the view of the common ground between us," he said.

Land-for-peace

He said transparent dialogue on issues will enable Arab leaders to find solutions to the problems facing their nations.

Al Mua'alem reiterated Syria's stance towards a just and comprehensive peace based on the international resolutions and the principle of land-for-peace.

He said the absence of Israeli will backed by the US is blocking the realisation of peace in the region. He stressed that there will be no change in the Arab strategy towards achieving peace through peaceful means.

Mua'alem said Syria supports the agreement between Hamas and Fatah signed last week in Yemen, and called on Arabs to support reconciliation amongst Palestinians.