Randa Achmawi, special report for ANBA*
Cairo – During the 76th Meeting of the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers, which took place last week in Cairo, the participating ministers of Foreign Relations approved the resolution relating to the relationships between the Arab world and South America. The resolution included, amongst other topics, the reopening of the Arab League offices in the Brazilian capital city Brasilia and Buenos Aires, in Argentina; the elaboration for joint actions proposals; and the commitment to the resolutions approved at the summit for South American and Arab countries, which took place in Brasilia, in May.
"The interest of the Arabs responsible for the relations with the South American countries is growing non-stop. They are increasingly more conscious of the importance of supporting all initiatives leading to a greater approximation between the two regions," said Ahmed Ben Helli, joint secretary general of the League of Arab States and responsible for political matters.
According to him, the resolution related to South America was approved unanimously. "There were no divergences on the points of view of the ministers," he assured. "Our aim is to create a political and economic axis with the countries in South America and we have in view the permanent coordination of our positions on the most varied international matters," he added. According to Ben Helli, to advance in this objective, a meeting of the "Brasilia Quartet" will take place, parallel to the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly that starts tomorrow (14) in New York. In this meeting will participate the Foreign Relations ministers of Peru, since the country occupies the presidency of the Community of South American Nations, of Brazil, Algeria, which holds the presidency of the Arab League, and the secretary general of the League, Amr Mussa. The resolution will include the project for reform of the United Nations and the Security Council, the Arab causes, the combat to terrorism and poverty, the development of the Southern countries and disarmament," he said.
According to him, it is expected that the parties may coordinate their positions during this meeting and, following that, present them to the General Assembly.
Economic axis
To make this "economic axis" between the two regions take place, Ben Helli believes that this work must be made through the support of the Arab chambers of commerce, both in the Arab world as in South America. "We have been thinking of promoting regularly business meetings, as the one held in São Paulo, soon after the May summit. We would like this kind of event to repeat itself, alternatively between an Arab and a South American city," he stated. "We have also manifested our full support to all initiatives of opening air lines between the two regions," he added.
*Translated by Silvia Lindsey
