Manama, May 14, 2024,The foreign ministers of Arab states convened in Manama, Bahrain, today for a preparatory meeting ahead of the 33rd Arab Summit.
The meeting, chaired by Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif Alzayani, was also attended by Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
The main aim of the preparatory meeting was to finalize the draft agenda for the summit. This agenda, building on discussions held yesterday by permanent delegates and senior officials, will outline key topics for discussion by Arab leaders. It includes eight main items encompassing a wide range of issues.
The draft agenda addresses a variety of areas in need of Arab joint action. These include political, economic, social, cultural, and media concerns, as well as security and cooperation with international and regional entities. It also incorporates reports from both the previous summit presidency and the Arab League secretary-general, which provide a comprehensive overview of recent activities and ongoing initiatives.
An item dedicated to the Palestinian issue and the Arab-Israeli conflict will address a range of pressing concerns, including following up on political developments, revitalizing the Arab Peace Initiative, and addressing Israeli violations in occupied Jerusalem.
The agenda also emphasizes support for the Palestinian people and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), while acknowledging ongoing issues with settlements, the separation wall, prisoners, and the situation in the occupied territories. The agenda also acknowledges developments concerning the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
Another key item focuses on Arab affairs and national security. This section addresses critical challenges in the region, including issues in Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, and the Comoros.
The agenda also tackles the need to find a peaceful solution to the Djibouti-Eritrea border dispute, address Iran's occupation of three islands of the UAE and Iranian interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries, adopting a unified Arab position on the Turkish forces’ violation of Iraqi sovereignty, addressing Turkish interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries, and the ongoing dispute concerning the Ethiopian dam.
The draft agenda also includes discussions on international political affairs, such as the upcoming second Arab-China summit and establishing a partnership forum between the Arab League and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and endorses Egypt's nomination of Dr. Khaled Al-Anani for the position of UNESCO director general.
The final item on the draft agenda addresses economic, social, media, and legal affairs, including following up on Arab responses to climate change, discussions on the amended Arab human rights strategy, and a joint Arab strategy to combat terrorism. The agenda also incorporates draft resolutions submitted by the Economic and Social Council and this summit’s declaration.