By NNN-SANA
Damascus : The 20th Arab Summit here on Sunday concluded its meetings by adopting several resolutions on Arab common action in political, economic and social fields.
On the occupied Syrian Golan the Arab leaders stressed firm support and backing to Syria in its legitimate demand in the restoration of the Golan to the June 4 1967 line according to the basics of the peace process, the international legitimacy resolutions and building on what had been accomplished in the framework of Madrid peace conference of 1991.
The leaders reiterated rejection of all procedures taken by the occupation authorities to change the legal, natural and demographical status of the occupied Syrian Golan. They considered these procedures as null and void and a violation of the international laws and the UN Charter and resolutions, particularly resolution 497 for 1981 and other UN general assembly’s resolutions.
The Arab leaders stressed that the continued occupation of the Golan poses threats to peace and security in the region and the world. They condemned Israeli exercises in the Golan represented by construction of the settlements, seizure of the lands and water resources and banning the Syrian farmers from benefiting from their water resources.
The leaders renewed support to the steadfastness of the Syrian Arab citizens of the occupied Golan in the face of Israeli occupation and insistence to stick to their lands and Syrian Arab identity cards. They called on the UN and its Security Council to allow the Syrian citizens there to visit their relatives in their motherland Syria, and pressure Israel to set free all the Syrian prisoners from Israeli jails.
The leaders condemned the Israeli policy which undermined the peace process and led to the mounting tension in the region, and called on the international community to pressure Israel into implementing the UN resolutions on the total Israeli withdrawal from the Syrian Golan and all the Arab occupied territories to the June 4 1967 line.
The Arab leaders also stressed support to Syria and Lebanon in the face of Israeli continued aggressions and threats and considering any aggression on them as an aggression on all the Arab nation.
As for the Palestinian issue and the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Arab leaders reiterated commitment to the just and comprehensive peace as a strategic option, stressing that peace is part and parcel that cannot be divided.
They also stressed the Arabism of Jerusalem and rejection of all Israeli hostile practices to Judize the city and change its Arab and Muslim identity.
The Arab leaders strongly condemned brutal crimes perpetrated by Israeli occupation troops against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the other occupied territories.
On the Arab peace initiative, they stressed commitment to the move as representing a main pillar for finding a just and comprehensive solution to all aspects of the Arab-Israeli conflict on all the tracks as stated by the peace process term of references and the UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, Madrid peace resolutions and the land-for-peace principle.
They emphasized that no peace can be reached as long as Israel continues to reject the Arab peace initiative and insist on its hostile policy.
As for the unilateral US sanctions imposed on Syria, the Arab leaders reiterated rejection of the so-called Syria Accountability Act as a violation of international law. They stressed full support for Syria and evaluation of its stance which calls for giving priority to the language of dialogue and diplomacy among the countries.
They called on the US administration to sincerely be involved in a constructive dialogue with Syria to find best means to settle the issues that block the improvement of relations between the two countries. They asked the US to reconsider its Act which constitutes a flagrant bias towards Israel and dissipates opportunities of peace in the region and harms Arab interests.
On the developments in Iraq, the Arab leaders stressed respect for the country’s territorial integrity and independence as well as its Arab and Islamic identity and rejection of calls to partition it.
They also rejected foreign intervention in Iraq’s internal affairs, adding that establishing security and stability there is the responsibility of the national unity government, the country’s political leadership and the support of the Arabs and the neighbouring countries.
The Arab leaders expressed gratitude to the Arab countries which host displaced Iraqis and the burdens they suffer to secure them decent lives, and called on the Arab countries and the international community to quickly present aid to help them in the host countries and alleviate their sufferings.
On the situation in Lebanon, the Arab leaders adopted an Arab Foreign Ministers’ decision issued on Jan 27, 2008 to support the Arab initiative to solve the Lebanese crisis and back the Arab League secretary-general’s efforts in this domain.
The Arab Summit approved a work paper submitted by Syria on the promotion of the Arabic language to head for a knowledge society.
The Arab leaders renewed condemnation of all forms of terrorism, rejecting attributing it to Islam which calls for tolerance, dismissing terrorism and extremism.
They underlined the need to crystallizing an Arab unified stance to take practical steps to free the Middle East from weapons of mass destruction and nuclear arms.
On peace, unity and development in Sudan, the Summit expressed appreciation of the efforts of the African Union and the UN in cooperation with the Arab League in this field, underlining importance of the Sudanese government’s efforts to consolidate security and stability in Darfur.
As for Somalia and the Comoro Islands, the Arab leaders welcomed the Somali government’s intentions to conduct a dialogue with the opposition, calling the Somali parties to abandon violence, stressing commitment to the national unity and territorial integrity of Comoros.
Regarding the UAE islands, the Arab leaders reiterated the resolutions taken in previous Arab summits, latest of which was the resolution issued by the Riyadh Summit.
On the Arab relations with international and regional blocs, the Summit stressed the necessity of continuing efforts to reach a genuine cooperation based on mutual interests in all fields.
As for the Arab ties with China and Americas, the Arab leaders reiterated previous resolutions in this regard and their keenness to boost relations with China in all domains, welcoming the holding of the second summit of Arab-Latin American countries due in Qatar in the fourth quarter of 2008.