Riyadh Takes Center Stage at 33rd Arab Summit Preparatory Meeting in Bahrain
Critical economic and social challenges facing the Middle East were at the forefront during the preparatory meeting for the 33rd Arab Summit held in Bahrain’s capital, Manama.
The session, held on May 12, addressed issues that will be presented at the upcoming summit, set to occur for the first time in Bahrain on May 16.
Leading the Kingdom’s delegation to the ministerial meeting was Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan, accompanied by representatives of member states of the League of Arab States and specialists from its general secretariat.
Al-Jadaan expressed Saudi Arabia’s pride in hosting the 32nd Regular Session of the Arab Summit, which resulted in the issuance of the Jeddah Declaration containing numerous initiatives to bolster collective efforts across economic, agricultural, cultural, and educational sectors.
He highlighted important decisions made during the previous summit, including advancing the Greater Arab Free Trade Area, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
During the senior officials meeting preceding the preparatory gathering, Assistant Deputy Minister for International Cooperation at the Saudi Ministry of Finance, Naif Al-Enzi, emphasized the importance of raising issues that benefit joint action at international and regional forums.
Al-Enzi expressed optimism for the session’s success under Bahrain’s presidency, aiming for consensus on outcomes that promote Arab economic and social integration while strengthening collective efforts and cooperation.
The Jeddah Declaration, announced at the conclusion of the 32nd Arab Summit on May 19, 2023, underscored the significance of enhancing joint action based on common foundations, values, interests, and a shared destiny.
The 2023 summit, following a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, covered various topics such as tensions between Israel and Palestine, the conflict in Sudan, the peace process in Yemen, instability in Libya, and Lebanon’s political situation.
Notably, Syria was invited to participate in an Arab League Summit for the first time since its suspension from the organization in 2011.
The final communique of the gathering reaffirmed the importance of the Palestinian cause to Arab countries and condemned all violations against Palestinians, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive and just settlement based on a two-state solution.
The communique also reiterated the importance of protecting Muslim sites in Jerusalem, reflecting previous summit positions on the matter.