Arab Ministerial Council: Any aggression against any Arab state... affects the security and stability of the entire region
Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy stated that the meetings of the 166th regular session of the Council of the League at the level of foreign ministers “witnessed a genuine and serious desire to move from recording positions and statements to taking concrete measures and actions,” emphasizing that “the consensus reached prior to the official meetings on various Arab issues reflects a new spirit, or the beginning of a new spirit, that is being nurtured among Arab states.”
Speaking at a joint press conference with Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Ali Nafti at the conclusion of the session on Monday, Fahmy added that “the meeting was held in an atmosphere of utmost seriousness, amid international turmoil and unlawful attempts to reshape the region through transgressions and the use of force across borders and within occupied territories.” He stressed that “the Arab world desires peace with everyone, a peace based on law, justice, and rights.”
He noted that “this atmosphere was reflected in the ministers’ discussions, whether concerning Palestine, Jerusalem, Syria, Lebanon, or other Arab issues, as well as the strong reservations regarding the use of force in the Arabian Gulf and the Iranian violations against the Gulf and several Arab states.”
Fahmy pointed out that “ministers affirmed during the consultative meeting that the requirement is not merely to rely on words, but to record principles and positions, and then move to the stage of actions. There is an Arab initiative to establish a fund and an observatory for Israeli violations and transgressions, aimed at monitoring and publicizing them, and presenting them to the international public opinion as prominent markers of Israeli oversteps.”
He stressed that the “new spirit” of joint Arab action was also evident in the consensus achieved among Arab states on decisions before the start of the official and public meetings, resulting from diplomatic efforts preceding the session between delegations, the General Secretariat, and the rotating presidency on various issues under discussion.
He indicated that issues such as Sudan, Yemen, Syria, and other Arab files were discussed, and a number of decisions were issued regarding them, clarifying that the ultimate goal was to attempt to reunite the Arab world rationally and logically, moving forward on the premise that the strategic objectives of Arab states are much closer than their tactical differences.
He stressed that any harm inflicted on an Arab state will inevitably have a negative impact on other Arab states, just as any positive gains achieved by any Arab party, if utilized effectively, can positively reflect on many Arab states.
Regarding the development and reform of the Arab League, Fahmy affirmed that reform and development are good, ambitious, and legitimate goals. He noted that development does not imply that the current state of the League is unmanageable, but rather stems from the conviction that Arab national security faces multiple challenges, and that collective Arab action and integration are beneficial.
He emphasized that “joint Arab action is conducted with full respect for the sovereign decision of each Arab state, and it complements the efforts of states to safeguard and secure their aspirations and interests; it does not replace the performance of any state or any efforts or ideas undertaken by a group of states.”
He considered it “natural, in this context, to speak about developing the Arab League,” proposing “the necessity of consulting on a renewed Arab agenda bearing the titles of ‘confrontation, development, and growth.’”
He clarified that “confrontation does not mean clash, but rather engagement with various issues, particularly events concerning the Arab world,” stressing the necessity for “the Arab League to be present during political crises and for a continuous process of developing Arab capacities, resources, and institutions, because events evolve and change; thus, Arabs must be prepared and open to development so as not to lag behind events, but to become a party in shaping their course.”
Regarding Egypt’s initiative to propose a vision aimed at strengthening collective capacity to safeguard Arab security, Fahmi stated that “what has occurred represents part of what was previously prepared for, and the League does not dwell on the past, nor is it premature to discuss the future; rather, what has been observed is a genuine and serious desire to address current events and situations.”
He asked, “Have we reached perfection?” and answered, “No, not yet,” explaining that “the important thing is the presence of seriousness, and that the coming phase will reveal whether the agreed-upon measures will indeed be implemented.”
He reiterated the importance of the League’s General Secretariat launching initiatives, as well as Arab states putting forward their own ideas and initiatives, noting that all such ideas would be subject to consultation with member states, with steps taken gradually to reassure everyone and begin implementing the ideas and evaluating their results.
Regarding the League’s reform initiative, Fahmi clarified that he does not claim it as his sole idea, emphasizing that the call for League reform has existed for about 20 years, and that every Secretary-General who assumes office is tasked with the reform file.
He explained that what he did was sense a recognition of the need for seriousness in addressing the reform file, and therefore he proposed a set of ideas that represent the outcome of a study he conducted on the state of the League, stressing that “the initiative is neither the beginning of reform efforts nor their end, and that the coming phase will reveal the extent of consensus or disagreement regarding the ideas he put forward.”
He added that he has no objection to there being 22 different visions on how to reform the Arab League, if everyone truly desires reform and development, affirming that he encourages all opinions and ideas put forward on this matter, and that they will be considered and studied.
He pointed out that what disturbed him in a previous stage was the existence of proposals from non-Arab parties regarding the shape of the Middle East in the future and the presentation of visions for the region’s future, without a corresponding Arab proposal.
He affirmed that his responsibility lies in achieving Arab coordination and consultation and dealing with these matters with utmost seriousness, explaining that his reform initiative included some initial steps and practical examples, but that the journey is still long.
For his part, Al-Nafti said that “the meeting underscored that solidarity, coordination, and the unification of Arab positions are essential to enhancing the capacity of Arab action to withstand, act, and exert influence. We agreed that there is no way to achieve security and stability in the region and the world without ending the Israeli occupation, realizing the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people, and establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
He continued, “All Arab countries condemned the aggression against Gulf states, Jordan, and Iraq, which targeted their territories and stability. We agreed that any aggression against any Arab state affects the security and stability of the entire region.”
