Al-Araby welcomes al-Sisi's call for Pan-Arab anti-terror force

Arab League Secretary General Nabil Al-Araby on Monday welcomed a call by Egyptian President Abdelfatah Al-Sisi to form a unified Arab anti-terrorism force.
The president's call, the timing of which on Sunday was described by Al-Araby as "significant", for an Arab force acquires momentousness at this point amid the challenges facing the region, prompting more efforts for protecting Arab national security.
In press statements, he referred to an Arab League resolution on September 7, 2014, for examining terrorist threats against Arab countries and the importance of joining forces to counter them.
The resolution stresses the necessity of a collective confrontation against terrorism - through military, political and intellectual means. Promoting religious discourse and education methods were also highlighted as being of major significance.
For the Arab League chief, conditions in the Arab region are "unprecedented" considering the existence of "terrorist groups" of an unusual nature such as the Islamic State, formerly known as ISIL.
He pointed to the Arab Treaty of Joint Defense and Economic Cooperation, signed in 1950, as a legal framework for countering terrorism.
Al-Araby said he had contacted Arab foreign ministers, seeking their views for activating the treaty, and is waiting for replies.
In response to a question, Al-Araby added that Al-Sisi's call might be the key issue on the agenda of an Arab Summit due in Cairo in March.