(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Arab leaders stressed Saturday the importance of implementing joint action measures in order to face challenges in the region, particularly terrorism.
The summit is being held during a very sensitive and dangerous stage on the safety of Arab countries and the entire region in light of expansion of terrorism, President of Iraq Fuad Masum said in his speech at the 26th Arab Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh.
Masum highlighted the widespread of terrorist organizations in various countries around the world, especially Arab countries, noting that criminal operations that took place in Canada, France, and Australia are little examples of the terrorism expansion.
The Iraqi people need all types of support by Arab countries, especially since the country is facing a crisis in accommodating over two million internally displaced Iraqis and 100,000 Syrian refugees in nine governorates, Masum said, noting that financial capabilities in these governorates are very limited as the financial support by Arab states and the international community is currently insufficient to handle most costs of these refugees.
He urged the need to hold an international conference in Iraq with participation of the Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), UN, and EU, in addition to some donor countries, China, and Russia in order to resolve refugees' issues and end their suffering.
The Iraqi President also pointed out crimes committed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) against the Iraqi people, particularly acts of genocide against Iraqi religious communities, mosques, churches, worshiping places, public properties, historic and religious relics, statues, and manuscripts.
He also highlighted successes of Iraqi armed forces, Kurdish Peshmerga forces, popular volunteers, and local tribes in liberating cities and areas from ISIL's control, expressing hope in overcoming terrorism in a less than a year period.
Masum also expressed his appreciation to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for his "exceptional" presidency of the previous summit.
For his part, Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi called for implementing further coordination measures among Arab states to combat terrorism, noting that terrorist groups in the region seek to minimize the state's authority and spread chaos.
He described terrorist groups' project in the Arab region as more dangerous and effective on safety and stability of countries than any other threat, urging the need to take all required measures and procedures to overpower terrorism before it grows bigger and its destructive effects spread wider.
On situations in Yemen, the Tunisian President expressed his concern towards outcomes of recent events in Yemen, confirming his country's full support of the legitimate authority in Yemen, as well as preserving its safety and stability.
On the Palestinian cause, he said that Palestine remains a top priority issue to Arab countries despite recent conflicting events taking place in other parts of the Arab world, affirming the need for further support in order to put an end for the suffering of the Palestinian people and halt Israeli activities of building new settlement, confiscating lands and funds, and attempts to Judicize Jerusalem.
On situations in Libya, Essebsi reiterated his country's full solidarity with Libya to preserve its sovereignty, independence, and unity of its lands, calling the Libyan government and all political sides in his country to return to dialogue and commit to it in order to end conflicts.
The Tunisian President also valued the efforts exerted by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah during his presidency of the previous summit, commending Egyptian President Abdulfattah Al-Sisi's efforts in making the current summit successful.
Meanwhile, President Mohammad Ould Abdulaziz of Mauritania indicated that the current summit is being held under grave circumstances at Arab, regional, and international levels, urging the need for coordination and cooperation by all Arab states and their partners to overpower terrorism, crimes, and chaos.
The Mauritanian President also valued Arab and international efforts exerted to overcome radical organizations that pose a great threat to the international peace, affirming his country's stand by all efforts toward reinstating legitimacy in Yemen.
He also affirmed Arab nation's eligibility in facing social, economic, and security challenges, noting that the Arab action has attained several accomplishments in many fields.
He also expressed his gratitude to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for his efforts and achievements attained during the previous summit, commending President Al-Sisi's efforts in current session, as well as Arab League Secretary General's efforts.
For his part, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said that Arab countries are currently facing grave challenges that require further solidarity and cooperation in order to face them, indicating that his country has huge natural resources and it could become the main food source for the Arab world.
President Mohamud also called all Arab states to assist and support his country by holding a conference on reconstruction of Somalia, noting that his country has just entered the transitional stage after exiting the civil war, and currently carrying out a war against terrorism.
He affirmed his country's stand by legitimacy of Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, expressing his objection to attempts of minimizing this legitimacy.
The Somali President also affirmed the Palestinian people's right in establishing its own independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, noting that the Palestinian cause is still the core issue in the Arab world.
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