APU calls for convening pan-Arab summit
Regional, Politics, 2/21/2000

Under the chairmanship of Ahmed Fathi Surour, Speaker of the People's Assembly and Chairman of the Arab Parliamentary Union (APU), the proceedings of the 35th session of the Union started in Algeria Saturday.

Topping the agenda of the meeting is be Middle East peace process and finding an appropriate formula which may affect a coordinated legislative process as a prelude to establishing a unified Arab parliament.

Some 21 Arab parliamentary delegations will be taking part in the two-day meetings.

During the opening session, APU has accepted Oman's membership, agreed on passing its presidency from Egypt to Algeria and approved Nour Eddin Bu Shakkouh as APU Secretary-General for one more term.

Addressing the session, Algerian speaker Abdel Qader Ben Saleh said that holding APU 35th session in Algeria mirrors the firm and clear-cut Arab supportive stances toward his country.

On his part, Surour underlined that convening APU meeting in Algeria is an enough proof that it was finally able to end its problems.

He wondered at some influential world countries which have adopted negative stances vis-a-vis the recent Israeli air strikes which targeted Lebanon's infrastructure.

Surour said the Israeli perpetration could torpedo the Barcelona Declaration which aims at furthering cooperation among Euro-Mediterranean countries.

He warned that the same destiny might be waiting for the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Dialogue.

APU chief proposed setting up a fact-finding panel to probe the latest Israeli violations in Lebanon.

He also called for putting into action the call for holding a pan-Arab summit, urging Arabs to close their ranks so as to mull over the immense challenges facing the Arab nation and to coordinate the Arab stances on the peace process and the settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Surour said passing the APU's rotating presidency among Arab countries would be done on an alphabetical basis.

Previous Stories:
  Starting works of the Arab parliaments union in Algeria   (2/19/2000)
  Morocco in Arab parliaments meeting   (2/19/2000)
  Algeria wants to head the Arab parliamentary union   (2/18/2000)

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