In extraordinary session under Prince Saud Al-Faisal's chairmanship:

Arab foreign ministers deal with dangerous split in Palestinian ranks

Prince Saud Al-Faisal: Israel is the only beneficiary from disagreement

GCC foreign, finance ministers discuss issues to be referred to leaders in Oman

Bin Alawi: We discussed all issues of common interest

Saudi finance minister from Muscat says kingdom's development plans won't be affected by oil price cuts

The ministerial council of Arab foreign ministers started its extraordinary session in Cairo under the chairmanship of Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the foreign minister of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In his inaugural speech, Prince Saud welcomed the Arab Foreign Ministers, hoping that the meeting makes the Arab countries feel that they achieve even part of what they hope of the current extraordinary session.

He said that this session reflects the interest of the Arab side in the outcome of the situation at the Palestinian arena, noting in this regard the persistent discord and division among the sons of one homeland and all stalled reconciliation efforts. We are required to identify ways to our salvation from this Palestinian ordeal and to have mercy on the Palestinian people who suffer not only from problems and consequences of occupation, but also from the pain of seeing their leaders divided, he added.

The Prince pointed out that the recent period has brought a lot of developments and changes at European and American arenas causing optimism for positive repercussions on the Palestinian issue and the future of the peace process in the Middle East.

Prince Saud Al-Faisal briefed the meeting on the most prominent developments, including the results of U.S. presidential election and the trend of the U.S. elected administration to develop new policies towards the region requiring the Arab side to explain and clarify the just position with regard to the problem of the Middle East in an effort to find a positive shift in the peace process, taking into account that the United States of America is the sponsor of the peace process and the principal mediator.

He noted in this regard the interest expressed by U.S. President-elect and his aides in the Arab peace initiative, his support for the vision of two independent states and readiness for commitment to Annapolis understandings.

The Foreign Minister pointed to a European, clear and comprehensive position on the importance of removing obstacles on the way of the peace process both in the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, or with respect to the Arab-Israeli conflict in general, especially in the light of the growing interest of European countries in the Arab peace initiative and ways to activate and affirm it.

He indicated the presence of a European concern about the continuing Palestinian division and its impact on international efforts to push forward the peace process to its desired goal.

Prince Saud emphasized that these data provide an opportunity that should be seized and invested on the side of the Arab countries, which requires an Arab strategy based on the unity of the Palestinian leadership embodied in the Arab peace initiative. He recalled the achievement in the meeting held last September during which it was unanimously approved the invitation to the Security Council for convention to discuss the issue of settlements.

The Foreign Minister considered that achievement as a result of serious Arab will that enabled to overcome all possible objections and challenges faced by the Arab side, adding that this positive response has been a sign of the growing international interest in the peace process.

He said that any Arab serious and effective movement will bear fruit only when Palestinians stand together as one rank behind this movement, adding that the purpose of this meeting should go beyond the routine appeal to the Palestinian brothers to end the discord and move towards reconciliation; the council should adopt an approach or a position commensurate with the danger resulting from this conflict and its intractability to all attempts of mediation and bringing together the viewpoints.

Prince Saud added that it is expected from the Ministers of Foreign Affairs to identify the bases and principles to get out of the Palestinian impasse and to avoid finger-pointing to one of the parties of the ongoing political dispute between the brothers in Palestine, pointing out that we are required to remind them of the compelling fact that should not be absent from their minds and the minds of all Arab states that the sole beneficiary of the continuation of the rivalry among the Palestinian leadership is Israel as it saves it from the trouble of proceeding in the peace process in light of the reality that persons in charge of this matter ensure the failure of this process.

In conclusion, Prince Saud hoped that the meeting comes out with a common vision on ways to heal the rift in the Palestinian body and how to invest the Western and American position in particular, as this side having the most influence on Israel's policy in the region, bearing in mind that the Arab side has no impact on any international party in the absence of Arab unity based on the unity of Palestinian ranks.

Then Prince Saud announced the end the public meeting and turning it to a closed meeting of heads of participating delegations.

"Arab countries have never participated in the blockade imposed on the Palestinian people," Moussa said at a press conference after the meeting with the Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Khalifa, who is the chairman of the urgent meeting.

"If some powers opt for going ahead with the siege, Arab countries will not take part in it, and will offer financial and material assistance to the Palestinian people," Moussa added.

Moussa also said that Arab countries will resort to the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council to issue a resolution condemning the Israeli brutalities against the Palestinians.

Arab foreign ministers held in Cairo a consultative meeting before the opening of the extraordinary session of the ministerial council of the Arab League.

The meeting discussed the Palestinian reconciliation, the peace process on Palestinian-Israeli track and the siege imposed on Gaza Strip.

Arab foreign ministers concluded here last night their extraordinary session under the chairmanship of Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the foreign minister of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

During their meeting, the ministers discussed the three issues of Palestinian reconciliation, the peace process on the Palestinian-Israeli track and the blockade against Gaza Strip and took a number of decisions concerning them.

In a press briefing at the conclusion of the meeting, Prince Saud called on the Palestinians to end their current disagreements to prepare the way for efforts to solve the Palestinian issue.

Prince Saud said the Arab ministers decided to immediately increase aid to Gaza.

Prince Saud stated that the Palestinian leaders are required to respect the Palestinian national legitimacy and the institutions of its national authority.

Arab League (AL) Secretary General Amr Moussa said that Arab nations will offer financial and material aid to the Palestinians regardless a political and financial blockade by Western powers since Hamas came to office in March.

Moussa made the remarks during a joint press conference with Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Khalifa after an emergent Arab foreign minister meeting in the AL headquarters in Cairo.

"Arab countries have never participated in the blockade imposed on the Palestinian people," said Moussa.

"If some powers opt for going ahead with the siege, Arab countries will not take part in it, and will offer financial and material assistance to the Palestinian people," he said. Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar hailed the decision, saying it could be helpful for the formation of a Palestinian national unity government and a lifting of international aid blockade.

"The decision to lift the blockade is extremely important. It means Arabs will then use usual means to send aid to the Palestinians," he said.

The Hamas-led government has faced political and economic sanctions since it took office in March, as Hamas rejects three conditions of recognizing Israel, renouncing violence and honoring previous agreements signed with Israel.

The conditions were set by the Quarter Committee – comprising Russia, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations -- which has been a major mediator in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Moussa said earlier that the emergency meeting would discuss the latest developments in the Palestinian territories and Arab nations' response to the Israeli aggression.

The Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee held its 78th meeting under the chairmanship of Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, Minister of National Economy and Deputy Chairman of Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council. In the opening address, the minister underscored the importance of the meeting, saying it would call for maximizing the efforts to speed up joint performance of the council’s ministerial committees.

He said the meeting would discuss obstacles to joint work including integration projects of economic and development nature and seek solutions and timetables for implementation. The outcome will eventually be reported to the Supreme Council’s 29th session to be held here at the end of this year. The Minister said the agenda included finding answers to the problems faced by the custom union and Gulf common market and solving problems in trade, industry, planning, development transport and communication sectors.

Abdul-Rahman bin Hamad al Attiyah, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General, said the meeting will discuss economic issues against the backdrop of the challenges and opportunities produced by the global financial crisis and which, he said, call for further co-operation and economic integration among the GCC members.

Al Attiyah said the meeting will make proposals to the GCC leaders on the speedy implementation of common objectives including the monetary union and the basic statute of the monetary council, follow-up reports on the custom union, implementation of Gulf common market and the planned Gulf railway network costing more than $14 billion and linking the six oil producers GCC countries.

The 1,940-kilometre railway would connect Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, each of which would contribute a share of the start-up capital, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said in a feasibility study.

In a statement, Macki said the committee reported its recommendations to the committee’s joint meeting with the GCC foreign ministerial committee held.

He said the committees recommended, among other things, subjecting the Gulf railway network and water link proposals to further studies. Meanwhile, the Supreme Council’s 29th session’s joint preparatory meeting commenced at Al Bustan Palace Hotel.

The Supreme Council’s 29th session’s joint preparatory meeting commenced at Al Bustan Palace Hotel. Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, welcomed the foreign ministers in an opening address. He said preparations for the summit were inspired by the GCC leaders’ directives to better serve and ensure further prosperity and progress for the GCC peoples.

He thanked Shaikh Hamad bin Jasim al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, for his efforts during Qatar’s chairmanship of the council, and praised Qatari political and diplomatic efforts in the Arab region. He also commended the preparation and follow-up efforts of Abdul-Rahman al Attiya, GCC Secretary-General and the council secretariat general staff.

He said the joint meet would focus on issues of joint co-operation and developments in the region and the world and on reaching a common agreement on various issues on the agenda. He said he hoped the meeting would objectively prepare the agenda for the Muscat summit.

The ministers arrived earlier for the meeting were: Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud, Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and his delegation; Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa, Bahraini Foreign Minister and his delegation; Prince Saud al-Faisal, Saudi Foreign Minister and his delegation; Shaikh Abdallah bin Zayid al-Nahyan, United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister and his delegation; Shaikh Dr Mohammed Sabah al-Sabah, Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and Jasim al-Shimali, Kuwaiti Finance Minister; Obeid Hamaid al-Tayer, United Arab Emirates State Minister for Financial Affairs. They were received by Alawi, Abdul-Rahman bin al-Attiyah, Secretary-General, and senior foreign ministry officials.