Al-Sudani: Jeddah summit is an opportunity of the Arab League to lead the scene

INA-  Baghdad

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani confirmed today, Wednesday, that the Arab summit to be held in the Saudi city of Jeddah, is a golden opportunity for the Arab League to lead the scene, while noting that Baghdad is preparing to embrace the meeting of ministers of transport of neighboring countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The Prime Minister said in an article published by Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper and followed by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "the inclusion of Arab leaders are meeting in the Arab summit under the umbrella of the Arab League at its thirty-second session in Jeddah the day after tomorrow (Friday), as we pass the crisis  experienced by the countries of the region, Noting that "despite the optimistic view on which we build our participation in this summit, our eyes on the events in brotherly Sudan, what is happening in this important country puts us in front of an important exam and a fundamental question: What are the duties of the Arab League when crises erupt?"

He added that "the Arab League today needs a unified strategy that brings closer to ties and ideas among the Arabs and contains differences between brothers in order to achieve the goal of its charter, and brings benefit and peace to the peoples under its slogan," calling on "the League to take the initiative to dismantle crises in the early days and not let them continue to the point of no return."

He added that "Iraq exercised its usual leading role in reuniting Arab countries and preventing regional differences, as Iraq worked patiently and carefully to bring the views between Saudi Arabia and Iran closer, and this approach paved the way for reaching the signing of a historic agreement between the two countries," pointing out that "Iraq was one of the most prominent supporters of Syria's return to the Arab League after years of absence, as it followed diplomacy of dialogue and Arab integration, which had a tangible impact on the decision of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo on the seventh of this month regarding the return of Damascus to its Arab home.

He stated that "by returning Syria to its seat in the Arab League, the image torn apart by the division between brothers in the past has met, and this return is a violation of crossing the region from the storm of separation that for years affected relations between brothers," explaining that "Arab stability depends on the unity of visions and requires the development of economic relations between Arab countries more than ever. There is no place for the political division that has disrupted this cooperation for years, and allowed isolated countries to act outside the framework of the Arab gathering.”

He pointed out that "from the first day of our assumption of responsibility, we are aware of the importance of this proposition and this economic integration, and we were proactive in extending a hand of brotherhood to our Arab brothers in every Arab forum, whether politically, economically or sports, indicating that "the Iraqis opened their arms in welcoming their Arab brothers who came from all sides and towards their brother to meet and partnership based on economic integration to serve our countries.”

He stressed, "We are returning to the Kingdom more than five months after its visit at that time to participate in the Arab-Chinese summit, in which we stressed that we want to build a strong Iraqi economy capable of achieving the desired qualitative change, and that Iraq will be a zone of convergence and integration between East and West, based on its strategic location, depth, historical heritage, regional weight.

He pointed out that "based on this principle, we began work on the strategic development road project to connect the port of Faw with the Turkish border, and from there to Europe, and Baghdad is preparing to hold a meeting that includes the ministers of transport of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iran, Turkey, Syria and Jordan late this month, to discuss and implement this strategic project because of the consolidation of the prospects for regional economic cooperation, and to serve the interests of these countries and their peoples.”

He stated, "The deal with the energy company, Total Energies, was concluded with a Qatari partnership, and it would end decades of gas burning, stop our import of it, and our loss of billions of dollars annually, in addition to stopping polluting Iraq's environment," noting that "this deal was reinforced by other deals such as signing Contracts for the fifth round of oil and gas fields, in which the Emirati “Crescent Company” participated, in order to upgrade oil and gas fields, and we are preparing to announce new rounds to offer fields and exploration blocks for investment in the gas sector.

He explained, "There are projects for electrical connection with Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and also a security protocol was signed to monitor borders and exchange security information between us and the Kingdom, the first since the eighties of the last century. We were keen to visit the Arab Emirates to confirm the importance of strengthening ties between us and the Emiratis and increasing trade cooperation with them, we have come a long way in removing and liquidating outstanding issues with our Kuwaiti brothers, and we look forward to more partnership with them in security and energy files.

He continued, "We do not miss cooperation with Egypt in several fields here, and we are preparing to hold the meeting of the joint committee after our visit to Cairo, which indicates the depth of relations between our two countries, which is the visit during which many economic files and Arab and regional issues were discussed," pointing out that "diplomatic relations with Morocco have returned to their previous era after Rabat reopened its embassy in Baghdad after years of closure, we look forward to exchanging experiences in the file of combating extremism and terrorism and the fields of economic, agricultural and banking cooperation."

He stressed that "Palestine Arabism will remain at the heart of our foreign policy, as we always emphasize Iraq's firm and principled support for the just cause of the Palestinian people, and we stand next to our Palestinian brothers in their quest to declare their state, with Jerusalem as its capital."

The Prime Minister concluded the article by saying, "All this economic, political and sports cooperation with our Arab environment indicates Iraq's sincere desire to dock with its Arab brothers, in a way that ensures peace and prosperity for all of us, and for our peoples eager to shade one umbrella that brings it together again, and it is possible that the Arab League will play a leading role in serving the peoples that it’s the primary goal of its foundation.”