In a Joint Press Conference with Arab League Secretary General… Fuad Hussein: Baghdad Summits Success Reflects Iraq’s Recovery and Readiness to Strengthen Joint Arab Action

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Chairman of the High Preparatory Committee for the Summits, Mr. Fuad Hussein, held a joint press conference with the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, at the conclusion of the 34th Arab Summit and the 5th Arab Development Summit, hosted in Baghdad on Saturday, May 17, 2025.

At the beginning of his remarks, Minister Hussein expressed his deep gratitude to the Arab leaders and heads of delegations for their participation, appreciating their continued support for joint Arab efforts. He also extended special thanks to the General Secretariat of the Arab League, particularly the Secretary-General and all the staff, for their significant organizational and preparatory efforts which contributed to the success of this historic event.

Minister Hussein commended the Kingdom of Bahrain for its previous chairmanship of the Arab Summit and commended Lebanon for hosting the last Development Summit, underlining Iraq’s appreciation for ongoing Arab cooperation. As well the Minister extended his thanks to the people of Baghdad for their warm hospitality and the local, Arab, and international media for presenting a bright image of Iraq and reflected its growing prosperity and readiness to host major events.

The Minister added that the summits witnessed broad Arab consensus on key political, economic, and social issues. The Palestinian cause remained at the core of the agenda, with a strong call to end the war in Gaza and to support humanitarian and relief efforts there.

Other regional crises were also discussed, with emphasis on political solutions and constructive dialogue to ensure regional security and stability. In this context, Minister Hussein commended the positive mediation role played by the Sultanate of Oman between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, expressing Iraq’s hope that these efforts will help reduce tensions and avoid escalation in the region.

The Minister announced an Iraqi initiative to establish an open-membership Arab committee for crisis management and conflict resolution. As the summit’s chair, Iraq aims to promote intra-Arab dialogue, activate diplomatic prevention mechanisms, and enhance coordination on common positions.

On the developmental front, the fifth Arab Development Summit focused on enhancing economic cooperation and further advancing integration in areas such as investment, energy, and the digital economy. The summit also emphasized support for joint development projects, particularly in food security, electrical connectivity, and infrastructure development.

Minister Hussein affirmed that Iraq is committed to implementing the outcomes of both summits and will work closely with Arab countries and the Arab League to translate them into practical actions, stressing that hosting these summits in Baghdad sends a clear message to the Arab world and the international community: Iraq is recovering and is on a path toward growing stability, making it a promising environment for investment and a central player in regional cooperation.

The Minister stated: “Iraq welcomes its Arab brothers with open arms. It has always been — and will remain — a home for all, a land of civilizations, history, and achievements.” He called for greater solidarity and joint efforts to face current challenges.

The conference concluded with the announcement of the “Baghdad Declaration”, summarizing the key political and developmental resolutions and initiatives from the two summits. The declaration sets a roadmap for collective Arab action in the coming phase, reflecting the aspirations of Arab peoples for unity, integration, and prosperity.