JEDDAH – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi affirmed that the Jeddah Summit for Security and Development is being held during a decisive moment for the world in general and the Arab region in particular.
The multi-dimensional global and regional crises have cast their shadow on humanity, including the Arab region, President Sisi added during his speech at the inaugural session of the Jeddah Summit, which kicked off Saturday with the participation of the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, the US and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
It is high time to rally efforts to put an end to all conflicts and protracted civil wars, added President Sisi.
He, meanwhile, affirmed that moving toward the future mainly depends on how to deal with the past crises.
Joint efforts failed to settle regional crises without reaching a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian cause, added President Sisi.
The escalating global and regional crises, including Covid-19, climate change, food security and increase of regional and international armed conflicts, have cast their shadow on the entire world, including the Arab region, said President Sisi.
Citing the political, development and security challenges which are facing the Arab region, President Sisi drew attention to the dangers facing the Arab region, including the spread of terrorism.
The Arab nations are wondering about the tools taken by their leaders to confront these challenges, he told the Jeddah Summit.
In this context, it is necessary to find tangible solutions to confront these challenges, he went on to say, adding that Egypt is exerting efforts in this respect.
It is no longer acceptable that the sons of the Arab nation – with its glorious history, rich civilizational contribution, and enormous human resources and capabilities – would include a refugee or displaced person, or affected by the scourge of wars and disasters, or one who has lost hope for a better tomorrow, President Sisi made it clear.
It is high time to rally joint efforts to put an end to all conflicts and protracted civil wars, which have depleted the wealth of the region and paved the way of some powers to interfere in their internal affairs, he went on to say.
Egypt has been a pioneer in regional efforts to spread peace, President Sisi boasted, noting taht Egypt’s aim was always peace, which is the ultimate goal and supreme target.
President Sisi reviewed a five-pronged comprehensive approach to take an action toward the top priority causes within the upcoming phase.
Delivering a speech during the Jeddah Summit for Security and Development, President Sisi said that moving toward the future mainly depends on addressing with the past crises, which either ending or still going on.
Accordingly, joint efforts failed to settle regional crises without reaching a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian cause, added President Sisi.
President Sisi went on to affirm that there is no solution to the Palestinian problem without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital.
“We have to intensify our joint efforts not only to revive the peace process, but to reach, this time, to a final solution that will be the driving force on which peace efforts in the region are based,” he went on to say.
Talking about the second-axis approach on priority issues to achieve further regional stability in the near future, President Sisi said that building societies that are based on democracy, citizenship, equality, respect of human rights, renouncing sectarian and extremist ideologies and upholding the concept of national interests are the guarantee to sustained stability in its comprehensive sense.
This requires enhancing the national role of the state and supporting the pillars of its constitutional institutions in order to be capable to perform their duties in laying the foundations of good governance, achieving security and law enforcement and providing a climate conducive to fundamental freedoms and rights in addition to empowering youth and women, he further said.
President Sisi also underlined the importance of supporting the NGO’s role, which is considered a main partner in the development process.
He further pointed out to the crucial role played by religious institutions and leaders to promote tolerance.
It is important to enhance the process of political, economic and social reform, promote investment and secure job opportunities in a bid to attain sustainable development, he added.
Regarding the third axis, President Sisi said that this axis is related to the Arab national security, saying that the capabilities of the Arab countries combined with their partners are sufficient to counter any danger that may face the Arab region.
In this regard, President Sisi stressed that the respect of states’ sovereignty, non-interference in their internal affairs, fraternity and equality are all the principles which govern inter-Arab relations, adding that these principles represent the spririt of the United Nations Charter.
President Sisi further underlined the need of taking practical steps toward the establishment of a Middle East zone free of all weapons of mass destruction, underling the need of promoting the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in this respect.
As for the fourth axis, President Sisi said that terrorism still represents a major challenge to the Arab countries, and thus Egypt renews its commitment to combating terrorism and extremist ideology in all its forms and manifestations, with the aim of eliminating all its organizations and armed militias deployed in several parts of the Arab world, which are sponsored by some external forces to serve their destructive agenda.
These armed groups use weapons to achieve political and material gains, impede the implementation of national settlements and reconciliations, and prevent the implementation of the will of peoples in some countries, and even developed their capabilities to carry out cross-border operations.
President El-Sisi further stressed that there is no place for the concept of militias, mercenaries, and armed gangs in the region, and that their supporters, who provided them with shelter, money, weapons and training, and allowed the transfer of terrorist elements from one location to another.
“We will protect our security, interests and rights by all means,” he made it clear.
The fifth and final axis is related to the need to strengthen international cooperation and solidarity to boost capabilities of regional countries to address major and emerging global crises, such as issues of food shortages, turmoil in energy markets, water security, and climate change, with the aim of containing the consequences of these crises, recovering from their effects, and increasing investments in developing the infrastructure in various fields, which contributes to the localization of various industries and the transfer of technology and knowledge, said President Sisi.
Concerning water security, President Sisi stressed the importance of renewing commitment to the rules of the international law relating to international rivers to allow all peoples to benefit from these natural resources in a fair manner, and the need to preserve the water security requirements of the countries of the region.
Talking about climate change, President Sisi said that Arab and African countries are among the world’s most vulnerable regions when it comes to climate change. He also invited all the summit participants to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), which will be held in Sharm El Sheikh in November.
Concluding his speech, President Sisi extended thanks to Saudi Arabia for the warm welcome and hospitality. He also delivered a message to the Arab countries and the US, during which he affirmed that Egypt will always be keen to preserve joint interests and walk side by side on the road leading to a prosperous future.
