Oman’s participation in Bahrain Summit to enhance joint Arab action

The Sultanate of Oman’s participation in the 33rd Arab Summit in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, on Thursday May 16th, affirms the permanent principles of Oman’s foreign policy and the country’s steadfast support for all forms of joint Arab action to achieve shared interests and address issues of common concern.

The Sultanate of Oman has maintained its supportive stance towards the League of Arab States to help the bloc accomplish its objective to realise economic integration that serves the aspirations of the Arab people for security and stability amid the crises and conflicts taking place in the region.

The Arab Summit, to be convened in Bahrain for the first time, constitutes an important milestone in the progress of joint Arab action. The Summit assumes added significance as it takes place amid many serious challenges, most notably the Israeli occupation forces’ military escalation in the Gaza Strip and other occupied Palestinian territories.

The grave injustice inflicted on the Palestinian people requires all to close ranks and achieve Arab solidarity in support of the just Palestinian cause. The current circumstances necessitate the adoption of constructive decisions that contribute to the consolidation of efforts to bring peace, security and stability to the region and launch a new stage in joint Arab action.

Besides enhancing cooperation for promoting mechanisms of joint Arab action and maintaining consultation about issues of common destiny, the Bahrain Summit will also prioritise measures to chart out paths of prosperity for the people of the region and its future generations.

The Summit’s agenda will cover a range of issues. These include: following-up on the implementation of decisions and commitments made during the Arab summit presidency’s 32nd meeting held in Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian issue, Arab national security affairs, the unstable conditions in some Arab countries and foreign interventions in the affairs of Arab states. The agenda also includes a review of international political affairs, including the convening of the Second Arab-Chinese Summit and the establishment of the Partnership Forum between the League of Arab States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

It will also deal with economic, social, media and legal affairs, climate change issues, the amended Arab Human Rights Strategy (first periodic review of 2024) and the Arab Media Strategy, as well as joint efforts to combat terrorism, maintain Arab national security and draft resolutions submitted by the Economic and Social Council.

Abdullah bin Nasser Al Rahbi, the Sultanate of Oman’s Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt and its permanent representative to the League of Arab States, said in a statement to the Oman News Agency that Oman’s keenness on Arab solidarity is characterised by its active participation in Arab meetings. He said that this includes consultation between Oman’s Foreign Ministry and its counterparts in the Arab countries. In these meetings, he added,  Oman assumes a forward stance lauded by all parties, noting that Oman has had a strong presence in all meetings of the Arab League.

Ambassador Al Rahbi added that the Palestinian issue constitutes the main and most prominent topic in the summit, which, he explained, will demonstrate greater Arab solidarity amid the current challenges posed to the Arab nation and other global political developments.

Faisal Hareb Al Busaidi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Kingdom of Bahrain, said that the Kingdom’s hosting of the Arab Summit constitutes a landmark of political significance in the context of many regional challenges, threats and disputes.

Ambassador Al Busaidi said in a statement to the Oman News Agency that the Sultanate of Oman, since joining the League of Arab States on 29 September 1971, has harnessed all its efforts in support of Arab solidarity through participation in all Arab summits.

This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.