In his opening speech during the ministerial session ahead of the Arab League Summit due to convene on Sunday in Tunisia, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ibrahim al-Assaf rejected US recognizing sovereignty of Israel over the Golan Heights.
“The Kingdom rejects any measures that affect the historical status of Jerusalem,” he added.
“We [Saudi Arabia] support the territorial integrity of Syria and the political solution based on dialogue between the opposition and the regime.”
He further noted that the Kingdom wants to unify the Syrian opposition ahead of talks with the Syrian regime.
As for the ongoing war in Yemen, the minister said: “we hold Iran fully responsible for what is happening in Yemen.”
He also reaffirmed his country’s support for UN efforts and UN envoys in Yemen, Syria and Libya.
“We reject the interference of Iran and its militias in a number of Arab countries,” he added.
Iran’s ballistic missiles pose a threat to regional and international security, according to al-Assaf.
During the preparatory ministerial session, the Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit called for a political solution to the conflicts in Syria, Libya, and Yemen.
Additionally, Aboul Gheit said that the “Golan is Syrian land,” rejecting the US decision to recognize Israel sovereignty over Golan Heights.
For his part, the Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Khemaies Jhinaoui said “the Trump decision on the occupied Golan is null and void and has no legal effect.”
“We will work with other Arab countries to contain the impact of US decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights,” he added.
The government ministers from the 22 Arab League states will be holding preparatory meetings in Tunis all week for Sunday’s summit, according to Reuters.
