Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit called on Iran to review its policies and rectify the grave strategic mistake it committed by attacking Arab states.
He also called on the international community, represented by the UN Security Council, to take all possible measures to stop Iranian attacks on Arab territories.
In his address to the extraordinary session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level, chaired by the United Arab Emirates, the current chair of the Council, and represented by Khalifa bin Shaheen Al Marar, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,
Via videoconference, Aboul Gheit stated that these attacks are unequivocally condemned and rejected by Arab governments and peoples alike. He stated that these attacks disregard the principles of good neighborliness and blatantly and dangerously violate international laws and conventions by targeting civilians, civilian infrastructure, and property, thus posing a threat to Arab national security. In his address, Aboul Gheit said, „Today’s meeting sends a clear message to everyone in the region and the world that the Arabs speak with one voice and stand united in condemning and rejecting any aggression against any Arab state, any violation of its sovereignty, or any threat to its territorial integrity and airspace.”
He emphasized that these attacks cannot be justified by any argument or excuse, as they reflect a reckless policy that strikes at the very heart of good neighborliness. He added that the Arab states are not parties to the ongoing war, nor did they desire its outbreak. They had previously declared their refusal to allow their territories and airspace to be used as launching pads for operations. Arab states, foremost among them the Sultanate of Oman, along with Egypt and Qatar, contributed to sincere and earnest efforts to spare the entire region, including Iran, the ravages of war circle.
He added that the Arab states never expected that the response to adhering to the principles of good neighborliness and sincere diplomatic efforts would be treacherous missiles and drones targeting infrastructure and civilians. He stressed that this unjustified Iranian aggression reflects a confused understanding and increases Iran’s isolation in this difficult and delicate situation, and may even have negative repercussions on the relationship between Iran and its Arab neighbors.
He called on Iran not only to review its policies and rectify the enormous strategic error it has committed by attacking Arab countries, but also to immediately and effectively cease these attacks. He added, „We also call on the international community, represented by the UN Security Council, to take all possible measures to stop Iranian attacks on Arab territories.”
He expressed his full solidarity with the countries that have been attacked. He said, „I am confident in their ability to overcome these attacks and their effects as quickly as possible, God willing.”
He concluded, „We have never considered war a means to solve problems or bring long-term stability. Our region has long suffered from wars and foreign interventions that have hindered its progress and inflicted enormous losses in the recent past, and this war—with all its repercussions—is no exception to this pattern or a departure from that rule.”
He concluded his remarks by saying that amidst all the violence and escalation we are witnessing, the opportunity for diplomacy remains open and available if everyone returns to reason and logic. Therefore, I call upon all parties to immediately return to the logic of dialogue and diplomacy to address the outstanding problems and issues, instead of sliding down paths from which no party will be immune to the dangerous consequences.
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