Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit said on Sunday the Arab-African partnership is one of the oldest partnerships in which the depth of Arab and African ties is evident, stressing the necessity of rallying all efforts to advance this partnership towards broader horizons in a way that serves common interests.
This came in Abul Gheit’s address at a ceremony organised by the Arab League, the Foreign Ministry and the African Union on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the first Organisation of African Unity summit that was held in Cairo in 1964.
Abul Gheit’s speech was delivered on his behalf by Assistant Secretary General ambassador Khaled el-Manzalawi.
He lauded deeply-rooted Arab-African co-operation, saying the Arab League closely works with the African Union to build an effective Arab-African partnership that has definite goals and a promising strategy to preserve regional peace and security.
He said institutional co-operation is a necessity for creating a bright future for both regions.
Today summit, Abul Gheit said, comes at difficult circumstances in light of the genocide crime committed in the Gaza Strip without mercy or humanity that resulted in the killing thousands of innocent people and the displacement of millions of them.
So far, more than 35,000 Palestinians were killed and 79,000 others wounded while the names of hundreds of families were completely deleted from records.
He called on the international community and influential international powers to put aside political calculations and the double standards policy adopted in dealing with international crises and shoulder their moral and legal responsibilities in face of barbaric Israeli practices.
He urged a just and comprehensive settlement to resolve the Palestinian issue and establish an independent, sovereign Palestinian state within 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He expressed support for the lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel before the International Court of Justice on charges of committing genocide crimes.
He said the pan-Arab body always supports the Arab and African countries in their rights to preserve their sovereignty and territorial integrity, expressing support of the unity and integrity of the Sudanese national territories.
He underlined the importance of preserving the institutions of the Sudanese state, especially the Armed Forces, offering a hand to refugees and displaced persons, protecting humanitarian relief corridors, and safeguarding civilians.
He also reiterated support of Libya’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and all efforts aiming at reaching a political settlement to hold parliamentary and presidential elections
At the end of his speech, Abul Gheit expressed his thanks to all the participants in this celebration, and for the kind initiative adopted by Egypt and the African Group in Cairo to organize this wonderful celebration.
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