Arab League Secretary-General stresses importance of international efforts to end Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands

Cairo, September 24 (KUNA) -- Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy stressed the importance of international efforts coalescing to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and enable the Palestinian people to establish their independent state. This was stated during a meeting held by Fahmy with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while the latter was participating in the high-level segment of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, according to a statement issued by the Arab League on Thursday.

The statement added that the meeting addressed developments concerning the Palestinian issue and the situation in several Arab countries, as well as ways to enhance Arab-Russian cooperation and the existing mechanisms for consultation and coordination between the two sides.

Fahmy reiterated the League’s commitment to developing cooperative relations with Russia, building on existing frameworks, foremost among them the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum. He also emphasized the necessity of enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination and to establish their independent state on the June 4, 1967, lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He strongly condemned any aggression or violations by the Israeli occupation against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Arab states, and called for respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, as well as the rights and interests of countries in the region, in accordance with the rules of international law and the UN Charter.

According to the statement, the two sides exchanged views on current regional and international developments, particularly the situation in the Middle East, developments concerning the Palestinian issue, and the situations in Lebanon, Syria, Libya, and Sudan. (End) M.M. / M.A.A.