CAIRO, May 16 (MENA) – The 34th Arab Summit, to be held in Baghdad on Saturday, is a significant opportunity to enhance Arab solidarity and counter regional security challenges, diplomats told MENA.

The diplomats said the summit comes at a critical timing in light of the current important issues affecting the Arab region, topped by the Israeli war on Gaza Strip, repeated attacks that violate the sovereignty of Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, the crises in Libya, Sudan and Somalia and the repercussions of the Iranian nuclear issue on the Middle East region.

Former assistant foreign minister Yaser Othman said participants at the summit need to address all these challenges through outlining a unified Arab stance to face threats posed to the Arab national security.

For his part, former assistant foreign minister Ayman Mosharafa said the summit will be held amidst several international and regional crises that negatively affect the unity and stability of the region.

Mosharafa, who was Egypt’s ambassador to Algeria and Tunisia, underlined the need to issue decisions on halting the Israeli aggression and ending the war and destruction in the occupied territories, in addition to backing efforts to contain the volatile situation in Sudan and maintain security in the Red Sea.

Egypt’s former ambassador to Yemen and Palestine Ashraf Aql said the summit will be a historic chance to back joint Arab action and unite Arab ranks to address regional issues and crises and face up to challenges that threaten Arab national security. (MENA)

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