Jordan urges ‘immediate’ pan-Arab anti-terrorism action

AMMAN — Jordan on Monday called on Arab countries to immediately work out a pan-Arab action plan to fight terror and extremist organisations.

Presiding over the 143rd ordinary session of the Arab League in Cairo, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Nasser Judeh urged member states to design the plan within the framework of joint Arab work mechanisms, such as the Treaty of Joint Defence and Economic Cooperation Between the States of the Arab League.

Judeh called for drawing up new strategies, if necessary, to form a joint and unified Arab front to combat the real danger of terrorism, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He also stressed that the Kingdom has been and will always be at the forefront of any efforts to counter terror groups and followers of extremist ideology. 

The foreign minister called on the league to provide all support that would lead to address the crises of some Arab countries suffering “instability and [political] vacuum” regardless of their causes.

Regarding the Syrian issue, he said only a political solution can solve the crisis in a way that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people and achieves a political transition that includes all components of the people, based on the Geneva I Convention. 

On Iraq, the foreign minister stressed the importance of supporting the Iraqi government’s efforts in its endeavours to fight terror groups and end their control over large swathes of the country, in addition to assisting the political inclusion of all components of the Iraqi people. 

Arabs have to seek swift and coordinated action regarding “alarming” conditions in Libya, which is witnessing a growing threat by “criminal groups” that control some areas of the country, he added.

Judeh also reiterated the importance of supporting the elected Libyan parliament and the Arab and internationally recognised government, chaired by Prime Minister Abdullah Al Thinni, including supporting the military institution, Petra reported.

He also highlighted the importance of Arab economic integration in a way that alleviates economic challenges and hardships facing some Arab nations, especially the youth component, which constitutes the majority of the population, Judeh reiterated.

Arab League Secretary General Nabil El Araby also stressed the importance of “cooperation in areas related to security protection and the exchange of information between Arab countries”, according to Agence France-Presse. 

“There is an urgent need for the creation of a multipurpose common Arab military force... able to intervene rapidly to fight terrorism and the activities of terrorist groups,” AFP quoted Araby as saying.