Emir takes part in summit of Arab, South American countries

The Fourth Arab-South American Summit, which wrapped up Wednesday in Saudi capital Riyadh, released a final communiqué in which it referred to a number of pressing political and economic issues.

President Nicolas Maduro came from Venezuela, whose country belongs to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries along with Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter.

Latin American countries have been among the most vocal critics of Israel’s policies in the Palestinian territories, with several recalling their ambassadors for consultations to protest Israeli actions during last year’s Gaza war.

Saudi Arabia, which hosted this year’s summit, backs the rebels seeking to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad. The summit’s final statement affirmed the need for a peaceful solution to the conflict. The meetings, held every three years, began in Brazil in 2005, followed by summits in Qatar and Peru.

He warned that the Arab countries are going through real dangers with groups adopting extremist thought trying to exploit the current situation in the region, which could push these countries towards chaos and division.

Ahead of the summit, Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi told Kuwait’s KUNA news agency that “trade between both regions has amounted to United States dollars 30 billion after it was no more than USD 6 billion in 2005”.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Nayef Bin Abdulaziz, deputy prime minister and minister of interior; Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, deputy crown prince, second deputy prime minister and minister of defence; and other Saudi ministers and senior officials also attended the meeting.

The King expressed happiness over the growth and prosperity achieved by the Arab and South American countries.

Numerous heads of state from the 22-member Arab League attended the Riyadh talks but only two of the 12 South American leaders were present.

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani took part in the opening session of the fourth Summit of Arab and South American countries at King Abdulaziz worldwide Conference Centre in Riyadh.