Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, participated this morning in the sixth session of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum held in the city of Marrakesh. The event was co-chaired by Mr. Nasser Bourita, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Residing Abroad, as well as Mr. Sergei Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, along with several foreign ministers from Arab countries.
Gamal Roshdi, the official spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said that convening this forum aligns with the overarching goal of fostering dialogue and cooperative relations between the League of Arab States and its influential international partners. This effort is guided by shared interests and priorities across various political, economic, and commercial domains for both Arab and Russian stakeholders.
In his address, the Secretary-General emphasised the League's gratitude for Russia's consistent stance since the onset of the conflict in the Gaza Strip. He highlighted that the conflict did not commence on 7 October but had roots preceding that date. Furthermore, he underscored that the atrocities committed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza were not only a source of shame for the occupying force but also for those who endorsed, supported, or remained silent on these crimes. The Secretary-General characterised these acts as a massacre, a war of genocide, and ethnic cleansing.
The official spokesperson added that the Secretary-General underscored the imperative of finding a comprehensive solution to address the tragedy in Gaza, advocating for the swift and genuine implementation of the two-state solution. He emphasised the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state along the borders of 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, aiming to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
During his speech, Mr. Aboul Gheit also highlighted the escalation of the armed confrontation in Sudan since last April. He emphasised that this escalation worsens the humanitarian situation in Sudan, widens the gap between Sudanese factions, and incurs growing human and material costs of the conflict. Mr. Aboul Gheit urged for a continuation of the political solution in Libya, emphasising the need to support the Libyan people until they achieve their goals of stabilising their country and restoring its sovereignty and security. Additionally, he called for a peaceful resolution to the Yemeni crisis, aiming to benefit its people and secure the region, which faces serious threats in the Red Sea region.
Mr. Aboul Gheit underscored the vital role played by the Cooperation Forum in enhancing economic, trade, and investment relations between Arab countries and Russia. This partnership has experienced substantial and sustained growth, manifested in a significant increase in trade volume between the two sides. Since the signing of the memorandum of understanding in 2003, the trade volume has surged from approximately $3.5 billion to $14 billion in 2013 with the initiation of the first forum session, reaching over $22 billion by the end of 2022.
The spokesperson added that two important documents were approved during the forum's proceedings: the joint declaration and the joint action plan for the period spanning from 2024 to 2026.
