President Tebboune Defends Solidarity with Wounded Arab Countries
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said on Saturday that sustainable development in the Arab region must be based on the principle of solidarity with sister Arab countries suffering from crises and wars.
Tebboune highlighted Algeria's commitment to actively participating in various initiatives to strengthen Arab cooperation, embodying economic integration.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad, and African Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, during the fifth session of the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit, held in Baghdad, President Tebboune said: 'Discussions about sustainable development in the Arab region must be based on the principle of solidarity with the wounded countries of our nation, starting with occupied Palestine and extending to the rest of the sister Arab countries suffering from the scourges of crises, conflicts, and wars.'
He explained that 'the security and prosperity of our Arab region will only be achieved through the recovery of these countries, the elimination of the injustice and oppression imposed upon them, and their return to the path of stability, growth, and prosperity.' He reiterated Algeria's commitment to contributing to Arab economic integration.
He also stressed that 'achieving Arab economic integration must not remain a deferred dream passed down from generation to generation. Despite the growth achieved in recent years, intra-Arab trade still does not exceed 8% of the total trade of Arab countries with the rest of the world. The same applies to inter-Arab investments, which also experience unfair disparities from one Arab country to another, with their low figures.'
The President of the Algerian Republic emphasised that the fundamental components for achieving Arab economic integration include 'the full implementation of the Arab Free Trade Area, the development of inter-Arab transport networks, and the creation of banking, financial, and insurance mechanisms.' He considered that the goals of economic construction and sustainable development are 'closely linked to the requirements of Arab national security and to our responsibility to enhance the capabilities of Arab peoples, with both current and future generations.'
In a related context, he asserted that 'Algeria is keen to be an active player in various economic initiatives aimed at strengthening rapprochement and cooperation among Arab countries,' pointing to its accession to the Arab Free Trade Area in 2009, its contribution to building various Arab financing and investment institutions, and its support for land, sea, air, and even energy connectivity projects.
The President Tebboune concluded, 'My country emphasises the need for all Arab countries not to fall behind in the revolutions currently taking place, particularly in the fields of renewable energy, digitisation, artificial intelligence, robotics, and nanotechnology.'
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