By Xinhua
Damascus : Arab leaders and their representatives Sunday renewed here at the closing session of the 20th Arab Summit commitment to boosting Arab solidarity in protecting Arab security and overcoming inter-Arab differences.
The commitment was reaffirmed in the Damascus Declaration read by Arab League (AL) Secretary General Amr Moussa at the closing session.
It also expresses favor of Arab higher interests above any differences and Arab willingness to stand together against political and economic pressures put on any Arab country.
On the Palestinian issue, the declaration renewed commitment to the Arab peace initiative and called on Israel to accept it.
Meanwhile, the declaration called for holding an extraordinary AL meeting at the level of foreign ministers to evaluate the Middle East peace process.
“The continuation by the Arab side to present the Arab peace initiative is tied to Israel executing its commitments in the framework of international resolutions to achieve peace in the region,” the Damascus Declaration said.
It expressed appreciation for Arab efforts, especially those exerted by the Yemeni leadership, in achieving Palestinian reconciliation.
The summiteers also stressed the importance of Palestinian solidarity and warned against Israel’s policies of imposing siege and increasing violence in the Gaza Strip, adding that Israeli crimes were crimes of war that required necessary action.
On Iraq, the declaration called for maintaining the country’s unity and achieving full reconciliation as well as putting a quick end to foreign presence in the country in order to guarantee its security, stability and sovereignty.
It touches on in particular the recent clashes between Iraqi security troops and Shiite militiamen, calling for an immediate halt of the bloodshed and start of dialogue.
In the declaration, the summiteers also reiterated their commitment to an Arab initiative to help Lebanon defuse political stalemate, calling on the Lebanese factions to support Moussa’s efforts to implement the plan.
On Jan. 6, the 22-member pan-Arab bloc endorsed a resolution in Cairo, calling for an immediate election of Army commander Michel Suleiman as president, formation of a national unity government and adoption of a new election law.
Turning to Sudan, the declaration emphasizes the importance of its unity and stability while voicing support to efforts for achieving comprehensive peace and a final settlement in Darfur.
On security track, the Arab leaders condemned all forms of terrorism, calling for holding an international conference under UN supervision to define terrorism, and highlighting the need to differentiate between terrorism and the right to resisting occupation.
They also called for making the Middle East a region free of all weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons.
The two-day Damascus summit, starting from midday Saturday in Damascus, brought together only 11 Arab leaders, including President Bashar al-Assad of the host Syria, a mere half of the 22-member pan-Arab bloc.
Pro-Western Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan sent only low-key delegations to the gathering in a snub to Damascus over its alleged role in blocking a Lebanese presidential election. Lebanon boycotted the summit, sending no one here.