Qatar hands over Arab League presidency to Kuwait

RIYADH:  Qatar on Tuesday handed over the Arab League’s presidency to Kuwait, an India-friendly country situated on the northern edge of Eastern Arabia. Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the Arab League Ambassador Salem Mubarak Al-Shafi handed over the presidency to Kuwait’s Permanent Representative Ambassador Ahmad Abdul Rahman Al-Baker, in preparation for the League’s meetings at the level of foreign ministers scheduled for Thursday.

The meeting of Arab League foreign ministers will discuss a number of topics, including the Palestinian cause, developments in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and Libya.
The meeting will also focus on energy supplies in the Arabian Gulf region and on supporting development and peace in  Sudan, Somalia, and Comoros. The foreign ministers will also discuss steps to enhance cooperation between Arab countries and their African and European counterparts.

The Arab League, which conferred observer status on India in 2007, is a powerful regional multi-national organization of Arabic-speaking countries on the African and Asian continents.  India has a large diaspora, exceeding about 15 million, in the 22 countries, which are currently member states of the Arab League. The Arab League’s mission is to promote trade and economic growth as well as sovereignty and political stability in the region.

On the other hand, Kuwait, which now holds the Arab League presidency, enjoys traditionally warm and friendly relations with India, rooted in history and sustained people-to-people contact.  The year 2020-21 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Kuwait. In fact, India has been a natural trading partner of Kuwait, and until 1961 Indian rupee was the legal tender in Kuwait. 

In a speech before handing over the presidency, Al-Shafi said that ‘the Arab nations are going through rapid developments, the effects of which are certainly reflected on all its vital issues, foremost of which is the Palestine cause, which still represents the first Arab issue that cannot be circumvented or undermine its status and symbolism among the Arab people.” He reiterated Qatar’s firm and supportive stance for the Palestine cause and the rights of the brotherly Palestinian people.

Al-Shafi said that Qatar chaired an extraordinary meeting at the level of foreign ministers, at the request of the state of Palestine, on May 11, 2021, to discuss Israeli crimes and attacks in the occupied city of Jerusalem, Islamic and Christian sanctities, and attacks on worshipers. To this end, it is also important to mention that Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani allocated a grant of $500 million in May for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, as well as to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of the brotherly Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

Al Shafi also reiterated Qatar’s firm position regarding the unity, sovereignty, and stability of Yemen, adding that that was why Yemeni parties must engage in a dialogue based on the outcomes of the national dialogue, the GCC initiative, and UN Resolutions, especially resolution no. 2216 in order to realize the aspirations of the Yemeni people for security, stability, and unity. He also said that a political resolution must also meet the Syrians’ aspirations for justice and freedom and maintain the country’s unity and sovereignty in line with the statement of the Geneva 1 conference on Syria and related UN resolutions. He also stressed Qatar’s commitment to Libya’s sovereignty, stability, and unity. – India News Stream