Abdul Meguid calls for Arab reconciliation

Esmat Abdul Meguid, the secretary-general of the Arab League, yesterday reaffirmed the importance of Arab reconciliation based on frank discussion of issues to regain Arab solidarity and achieve economic integration.

In his address at the inauguration of the High Coordination Committee for Arab Joint Work, which started its activities yesterday in Rabat, Abdul Meguid pointed out that the Arab states have attained achievements, foremost of which is implementing the executive program of the Arab greater free trade zone. He called upon Arab organizations, joint Arab establishments and Arab unions to develop their activities to achieve the aim of establishing the greater Arab free trade zone.

He referred to the dangerous crisis the peace process has reached in the Middle East due to Israeli policy, confirming that just and comprehensive peace is the real guarantor for providing safety and security to all people and countries in the area.

Abdul Meguid also stressed the importance of resuming Arab-Israeli negotiations from the point at which they broke off in Madrid, and for Israel to implement relevant UN resolutions.

He added that the deadlock of the Middle East peace process is a result of the Israeli government's current policies, Israel's ignoring of peace process principles, its settlement practices in the occupied Arab territories, confiscation of Arab lands in Palestine and aggressions against south Lebanon.