Arab Summit in Algeria: Security Tightened and Letters of Welcome for Participants
The Algerian capital, Algiers, is witnessing an intensive security deployment on Tuesday; in preparation for the launch of the 31st Arab Summit, which will continue until tomorrow.
Roads were closed and security forces were widely deployed in the squares and main streets on a day of public holiday marking the 68th anniversary of the start of the Algerian revolution.
The streets of the capital were covered with Arab flags and banners were hung on the side of roads to announce a large welcome for the Arab Summit guests, including leaders and officials.
The Algiers Summit, which was called the “Reunion” Summit, looks forward to achieving consensus on many of the issues and challenges facing the region, especially with regard to the crises in Libya, Yemen and Syria, in addition to the Palestinian issue as the central issue, as well as other issues related to economic and trade cooperation.
The meeting of Arab foreign ministers stressed the need for Algeria’s date to be an “exceptional move” to unify Arab positions in order to restore stability in the Arab world.
The first session of the summit is scheduled to be held at 6:00 p.m. Algerian time, and will be opened by Tunisian President Kais Saied, the president of the previous summit, and then handed over the presidency of the summit to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the president of the current session.
The Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, will also deliver a speech after the handover ceremony, followed by a few words to some of the presidents present, followed by a dinner in honor of the Arab leaders.
Ramtane Lamamra, Algeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad, said on Monday that Tebboune would present a number of ideas to reform the Arab League.
“We attach great importance to the issue of reforming the Arab League,” Lamamra said in a press conference at the International Conference Center on the eve of the opening of the Arab Summit, stressing “the importance of civil society, which, if it plays its full and undiminished role, will push forward joint Arab action.”
Regarding the Algiers Declaration, which will be issued at the end of the Arab Summit, Lamamra said that it has a special place in developing joint Arab action, and that “it is not possible to anticipate events and talk about what is contained in this document.”
He stressed that since the meeting of permanent delegates and senior officials, the “Algiers Declaration” was enriched and amended, stressing in the context that the Arab League Council at the summit level will take a decision on it.
He stressed that President Tebboune wants this summit to be a “milestone” in joint Arab action and to respond to major new and renewed challenges, “which require real courage and keenness on giving priority to the public interest over individual interests.”
