Iraq: Timing, location of third Africa-Arab summit important

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari Monday considered the 3rd Africa-Arab summit "important in terms of timing and location," saying Arab countries needed regional partnerships contributing to development and investment. In a huddle with reporters attending the November 19-20 summit, Zebari said the fact the summit was focusing on economy "is a step in the right direction, " however there were political issues like Palestine, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), terrorism and Arab causes in general. Zebari said there were security challenges in the Arab world resulted from the revolutions. "This condition can be transferred to Africa," he warned and cited the developments in Mali and Niger, proliferation of arms and illegal immigration that might spread in the whole of Africa. "The Arab and African countries have common interest to cooperate to prevent the spread of chaos and instability," said Zebari. He praised His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for taking the initiative during the 2nd Africa-Arab Summit that was held in Libya in 2010 and announced Kuwait's willingness to host the 3rd summit. Zebari hoped the Kuwait's Summit resulted in "practical resolutions" that would benefit the Arab and African regions, like food security and agriculture investment. Asked about the Syrian conflict, Zebari said the Syrian opposition's approval to participate in the Geneva II meeting was a good decision. The crisis in Syria, in its third year now, killed some 120,000 people and displaced millions others in and outside the country.