DUBAI // The Arab world must focus on eliminating terrorist groups and boost education and scientific research, said the secretary generals of the Arab League and the GCC.
Speaking at the World Government Summit on Monday, Arab League chief Dr Nabil ElAraby said it was vital to ensure sustainable economic development and finding solutions to the conflicts in Syria, Libya and Yemen.
“I think there are many changes taking place and a new phenomena of terrorism in the region which we need to focus on eradicating,” he said.
“We must ensure higher levels of employment, education and enhance economic ties between all Arab states so that our citizens can see what we are doing for them.”
Dr ElAraby said the region should learn from world history because the transitional period of regimes in countries where the Arab Spring uprisings took place in 2011 – such as Tunisia and Egypt – was expected to end soon.
Citing the collapse of the Soviet Union, he said it took many years for the former Soviet satellite states to move from having autocratic rulers to establishing good governance.
Referring to the Arab League, Dr ElAraby said the organisation remained in need of reform.
“The charter was drafted in 1944,” he said. “Can you imagine yourself driving a car manufactured in 1944 today? Based on that, we embarked on a series of reforms, but we are still working on it.”
At the summit yesterday, GCC chief Dr Abdul Latif Al Zayani said the Arab world must unite to provide safe and secure environments for Arab people to prosper.
Towards that end, the funding of terrorist groups must be stopped, he said.
Addressing the humanitarian fallout from the regional conflicts, Dr Al Zayani urged countries in the region to provide aid and relief to millions of displaced people.
“We cannot accept this situation where Syrian or Iraqi children die of hunger, war and drownings in the Mediterranean Sea,” he said.
Pointing to the Arab tradition of optimism, the GCC chief said: “We have always tried to find opportunities in challenges facing us. I know there are a number of challenges but I believe we can overcome them if we have the necessary tools.”
Overcoming these challenges and seizing opportunities required political will, he added.
“We need to work together based on the vision we have set for ourselves,” said Dr Al Zayani.
“We need to ensure there are good intentions between all Arab states as well as better communication.
“Building trust between Arab states and people is also crucial and I believe the local populations in the Gulf states have a lot of trust in their governments.”
cmalek@thenational.ae
