Researchers seek ‘united Arab position’ on int’l issues

AMMAN — Political experts and researchers from the Arab world gathered in Amman on Sunday to discuss the reality and prospects of creating a united Arab position on the international stage, according to the seminar’s organisers.

Over the course of two days, 12 researchers from Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon and Iraq are trying to build and Arab position to deal with the international community as a whole in the future.

“Hopefully we can reach an initiative that would be presented to Arab leaders when they convene in Amman for the Arab League Summit next year,” Jawad Al Hamad, president of the Middle East Studies Centre in Jordan, the meeting’s organiser, told The Jordan Times.

In a speech at the opening ceremony delivered on his behalf by Zayyan Zawaneh, former prime minister Taher Masri said Arab-Arab relations are in a state of disarray, which has been exacerbated by economic difficulties.

Mustafa Othman Ismail, the permanent representative of Sudan at the UN, said that conflict in the region is mainly between the three countries —Turkey, Iran and Israel.

Sunday’s sessions tackled Arab ties with the US, Russia and Europe, while Monday’s sessions are scheduled to address Arab relations with Africa, Asia and South America, in addition to the future of Arab-international relations.