29th Arab summit to adopt anti-Iran resolution

CAIRO – 12 April 2018: A concerned Arab quartet committee concerned held a meeting in Riyadh on Thursday to discuss Iran's interferences in the domestic affairs of Arab countries, on the sidelines of the preparatory session of the 29th Arab summit set to kick off in Dammam on Sunday.

The committee that includes four Arab states – Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – agreed on proposing a resolution concerning the impact Iranian interference has on Arab national security before the Arab leaders in the summit, considering the future relations with Iran.

The meeting was attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, Bahraini Foreign Minister Khaled Al Khalifa and UAE State Minister of Foreign Affairs Anwar Qarqash in addition to Arab League (AL) Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit.

“The meeting addressed the Iranian threats and the firing of ballistic missiles by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia,” spokesperson of the secretary general Mahmoud Afifi stated.

On the other hand, the meeting of Arab foreign ministers held on Thursday excluded the foreign minister of Qatar, which was represented by its permanent representatives to the Arab League, Ambassador Saif bin Muqaddam al-Buainain.

Qatar has been isolated by its Arab neighbours since June 5, 2017, over accusations of funding terrorism across the Middle East and disturbing the peace and stability of Arab countries.

An Arab source asked to remain anonymous told Egypt Today that the preparatory meetings have not addressed the Arab-quartet boycott to Qatar for having more important issues on the menu of Arab leaders.

Qatar, backed by Iran, was blamed for the rampant chaos and terrorism in the Arab countries. It was the hotbed of several terrorists belonging to al-Qaeda and ISIS; it provides them with finance, logistic support and weapons to carry out their terrorist operations inside Arab territories.

In a recent report, The New York Times shed light on a deal between Qatar and Iran that entailed changing the demography of Syria to allow Iran to dominate the war-torn country by establishing a Shiite zone that serves its interests in the region.