(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Al-Araby and visiting Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende discussed on Tuesday the latest developments in the Middle East region and the preparations for holding an international conference on the reconstruction Gaza Strip, due here on October 12. After meeting, Brende told reporters that the talks stressed the necessity of providing humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people and reconstructing the war-ravaged Strip.
The meeting discussed the possibility of resuming negotiations between the Palestinian factions and Israel, he added, stressing that the way should be paved for the negotiations in order to reach a final settlement to the conflict. The talks also dealt with the crises in Syria and Libya which should be resolved through political means, he added.
The Norwegian minister noted that they also discussed the efforts to combat the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), hoping the new Iraqi government could contribute to support those efforts.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Mohammed Sobeih, the League's Assistant General-Secretary for Palestine Affairs, told reporters that the meeting was important especially after Brende paid a visit to Gaza and was briefed on situations there.
Both sides stressed the necessity of reconstructing the Strip as soon as possible, Sobeih said, adding that Brende called for lifting the blockage Israeli imposes on Gaza.
Earlier today Egyptian President Abdelfatah Al-Sisi received Brende to review the current preparations for the conference co-sponsored by Egypt and Norway.
Al-Sisi stressed the close connection between efforts of reconstruction and the final settlement that ensures putting an end to the conflict, Spokesman for presidency Ihab Badawi said in a statement.
Brende lauded Egyptian efforts that led to a ceasefire deal between Israel and Palestinian factions, saying that that deal would not be made without Cairo's efforts.
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