Arabs, Latin Americans Praise Suleiman”s Efforts to Consolidate Stability
Arab and South American leaders welcomed on Tuesday the Doha agreement that ended Lebanon”s political crisis last year and backed President Michel Suleiman in his efforts to consolidate stability through dialogue.
Leaders of the 22-member Arab League and 12 South American states staged their second summit in four years in the Qatari capital, Doha. They agreed that financial speculation needs to be fought to tackle the global economic crisis.
The final declaration said that "in addition to international efforts, instruments of financial cooperation should be put in place."
The participants insisted on the "necessity of establishing an international financial system that prevents financial speculation and takes into account adequate regulations" of the markets.
The declaration did not include any mention of Omar al-Bashir, president of Arab League member state Sudan, wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Darfur, but simply called for "an urgent solution to the crisis in Darfur."
The final declaration also mentioned Lebanon by welcoming the May 2008 Doha agreement that ended the country”s crisis, backing Suleiman”s efforts to bring bickering politicians closer through dialogue and stressing the important role of U.N. peacekeepers in the country.
Furthermore, it called for the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 and condemned Israel”s violations of the resolution. The leaders reiterated their full support for Lebanon”s sovereignty and national unity.