The Arab Economic and Social Development Summit is being held in the Lebanese capital of Beirut amid the absence of most Arab leaders except for the emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.
At the opening of the summit, Kuwait launched an initiative to establish a $ 200 million technological investment fund. Qatar announced that it would contribute $ 50 million to the fund.
Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sabah Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said in a speech at the summit that the Emir of Kuwait had called for the establishment of the fund to support technological developments in the Arab world in order to reach a more prosperous future for the Arab peoples.
For his part, the Qatari Finance Minister Ali Shareef Al-Emadi said that Qatar will contribute, on the instructions of the Amir, $ 50 million in this fund.
On the other hand, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said at the opening session that Lebanon made every effort to remove the reasons that led to the vacancy of some of the seats in the summit, but the obstacles were stronger.
He stressed that reunification remains an urgent need, given the challenges that threaten the region, identity and belonging, which can only be achieved through consensus on the central issues and national rights, which translates the will of the people eager to prosperity and stability, as he put it.
| Emir of Qatar and the Qatari delegation during his attendance at the Economic Summit (Anatolia) |
In his speech, Aoun did not forget about the wars that have rocked the region and their impact on the development process which is making its way hard, especially in some countries that suffer mainly from economic and social problems.
He said that the Beirut summit will not discuss the causes and causes of wars and conflicts in the region, but will address the devastating consequences for the economy and growth in the Arab region.
Poor attendance
A number of presidents have apologized in recent days for not showing up without giving clear reasons, most recently the Tunisian and Somali presidents.
The preparations for the summit were overshadowed by discussions over the possibility of inviting Syria to attend. Lebanese Foreign Minister Gibran Bassil called Friday for the return of Syria to the League of Arab States.
| Aoun (right) Beirut will not discuss the causes of wars and conflicts in the region (Anatolia) |
The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said Thursday that Syria's return to the university is waiting for "Arab consensus."
Among the draft resolutions put forward is the call of the international community to support the Arab countries hosting the Syrian refugees. The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States should be invited to convene a meeting of international donors and concerned international organizations.
Among the issues at the Sunday summit amid divisions among the countries concerned on the formulation, to encourage the voluntary return of Syrian refugees to areas where the cessation of hostilities.
The draft resolutions also include an invitation to Member States, financial institutions and donors to "provide technical and material support to the Republic of Yemen" that contributes to reconstruction.