Egypt's FM stresses importance of Arab Summit

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has underlined the importance of the 26th session of the Arab Summit at this critical time.
The Arab summit came at a moment the Arab nation is facing unprecedented challenges, Shoukry said during a joint press conference with Arab League Secretary General Nabil el Araby at the end of Arab Foreign Ministers meeting in preparation for the Arab Summit, slated for Saturday and Sunday.
“We are able to deal with them,” he said.
He noted that the ministers held a special session over the situation in Yemen and issued a statement to support a 10-country coalition formed to support the legitimate government in Yemen.
The ministerial meeting mainly covered the situation in Yemen, the Egyptian top diplomat said.
The coalition will enhance the coordination among member states, Shoukry said, praising the international support for the coalition.
“We should deal with what threatens the Arab national security,” according to Shoukry.
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that the Arab ministers approved a resolution to form Arab joint force.
The resolution was approved and will be submitted to the Arab leaders during the Arab Summit, slated for Saturday and Sunday.
Asked about the situation in the Palestinian lands, Shoukry said that the Palestinian cause was tackled during the meeting.
The Palestinian cause is the key issue for all Arab states, Shoukry said, noting the meeting tackled efforts exerted to end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
An Arab committee will be formed to push up efforts to establish the independent Palestinian state, Shoukry said.
Shoukry pointed out that the committee will hold a meeting following the summit to contact all parties concerned to determine the coming steps to end the conflict.
As for the Libyan crisis, Shoukry said that the Arab ministers voiced support for the legitimacy in Libya and for efforts exerted by UN envoy Bernardino Leon to bring the Libyan parties around the negotiating table to get the country out of its current crisis.
Shoukry categorically denied Arab disputes over supporting legitimacy in Libya.
Commenting on the participation of Yemeni President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi in the Arab Summit, Shoukry said that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi extended an invitation to Hadi, who expressed his determination to attend the summit.
There is a need to form “Arab joint force” to protect Arab national security, Shoukry said.
Asked about the situation in Syria, Shoukry said that Syrian situation is “complicated.”
The Syrian crisis should be tackled from all aspects to end the four-year conflict, he said.
Arab League Chief Nabil el Araby said that the Arab leaders will gather at important time for the Arab nation.
“The Arab citizen is deeply concerned about the Arab national security is being threatened now than ever before,” AL chief Nabil el Araby said during a joint press conference with Shoukry.
The Arab League secretariat and the Egyptian presidency aims at focusing on threats against Arab national security, Araby said.
He noted that Arab states moved to protect the legitimate government in Yemen.
The Arab foreign ministers stressed their determination to face threats and terrorism in a comprehensive way from all military, security, intellectual and ideological aspects, Araby said.
The Arab ministers approved the formation of the joint force to face threats facing Arab national security, Araby said.
He noted that the Yemeni president confirmed his participation in the summit.
Araby denied that the coalition formed to support the legitimacy in Yemen is a nucleus of the joint force.
This is just a coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen, Araby said.
Asked about the situation in Libya, Araby said the resolution adopted on Libya supports the legitimate government in Libya represented in the elected Libyan parliament.
Commenting on the Syrian crisis, Araby said that the Arab League exerted vigorous efforts to end the Syrian crisis.