Foreign Minister: The Presidency of the Council in the 152nd Session Dealt with Arab Issues out of Iraq’s Keenness and Support for all Efforts, International and Regional Initiatives Aimed at Resolving the Conflict in Libya, Syria, and Yemen by Peaceful Means

Foreign Minister Mohamad A. Alhakim affirmed that Iraq’s presidency of the League of Arab States Council at the ministerial level was keen to advance the pace of joint Arab action toward defending Arab issues in international forums.

Minister Alhakim explained that the Council’s Presidency in the 152st session dealt with Arab issues out of Iraq’s keenness and support for all efforts, and international and regional initiatives aimed at resolving the conflict in Libya, Syria, and Yemen by peaceful means, renouncing military solutions, and the return of these fraternal countries to exercise their natural role in the Arab system.

Minister Alhakim added while emphasizing the steadfast position of Iraq in support of the rights of the Palestinian people, foremost of which is the establishment of its independent state and its occupied capital of Alquds, stating that achieving stability in the region will not be achieved without finding a just and lasting solution to the issue of Palestine in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy.

In his speech, Minister Alhakim reviewed a number of special sessions held by the Council in response to important events, and the positions of the Council regarding them, including: the extraordinary session on the background of the Zionist occupation’s intention to annex lands from the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley to its usurping entity, and another session on the changes of the positions of United States regarding considering Israeli settlement in the occupied Palestinian territories not contrary to international law, the dangers of Turkish intervention in northeastern Syria, and the discussion of President Trump’s plan regarding the Middle East peace process, or the so called deal of the century.

As well as the special sessions held by the Council at the level of permanent delegates. Including an exceptional session to discuss the issue of the opening of the Republic of Brazil a commercial and diplomatic office in Alquds in which the Presidency of the Council sent a message to the Foreign Minister of Brazil expressing the rejection of the Arab countries to this behavior that would affect Arab-Brazilian relations, and also sent a similar message to the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Honduras for his country’s intention to open a trade commission in the occupied city of Alquds.

In addition, all issues related to the Arab affairs particularly Yemen, Libya and Syria, were discussed. The Council discussed for the first time the security of waterways and freedom of navigation in the Arab Gulf region, and securing the flow of energy supplies from this vital region to all parts of the world.

At the end of his speech, Minister Alhakim invited Mr. Youssef bin Alawi, Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman to take over the tasks of chairing the 153rd session, expressing his wishes for success in managing the work of the Arab Group.