
Arab League: Baghdad Summit expected decisions reflecting responses to crises
INA – BAGHDAD
Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, Hossam Zaki, affirmed on Monday that the resumption of the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in Baghdad is extremely important, and its topics are equally important and political.
"Baghdad will host two summits simultaneously, one political and the other developmental. We expect the issuance of decisions that reflect a real response to the crises," Zaki told the Iraqi News Agency - INA.
He noted, "The upcoming summit meeting of the Arab League Council on May 17th is being held under exceptional Arab, regional, and international circumstances, which require the issuance of decisions that reflect a real response to the crises."
"These circumstances require the summit to make decisions of a special nature. We expect to reach decisions that will truly meet public expectations. The Development Summit is being held in its fifth session. The first session was held in Kuwait, and the last session was held in Lebanon in 2019. After that, it was only held in Baghdad. Therefore, Baghdad is hosting two summits simultaneously," he explained.
He added that "the Development Summit is dedicated to economic and social issues, which are no less important than the political issues that will be discussed at the meeting of leaders, kings, and presidents. The development summit includes extremely important issues that must be focused on."
Zaki concluded by saying, "We are pleased that the Development Summit is being held and is returning to Baghdad. This is an excellent thing, and we congratulate Iraq for hosting it."
Earlier today, a meeting of the Economic and Social Council was held in Baghdad at the senior officials level.
This is a preparatory meeting for the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit, scheduled to be held after the Arab League Council meeting at the summit level, with the attendance of Arab leaders, kings, and presidents.
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