Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi presented a comprehensive approach involving five aspects to help move forward regional issues, in order to make a greater leap towards a more stable and prosperous region.
1)Peace in Palestine
During his speech at the opening of the Jeddah Summit for Security and Development, on Saturday, Sisi discussed the first major step needed for peace in the region:
“Firstly, our joint efforts to resolve the region’s crises can only be successful by reaching a just, comprehensive and final settlement of the first Arab issue, which is the Palestinian issue, on the basis of the two-state solution based on the relevant references of international legitimacy.”
He stressed that a settlement should guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
2)Building up the foundations of society
He then explained the next vital aspect, which involves building societies from within on the foundations of democracy, citizenship, equality, respect for human rights, rejecting sectarian and extremist ideologies, and upholding the concept of national interest.
This, Sisi noted, is the guarantor for the sustainability of stability, preserving the capabilities of the people and preventing them from being misused.
He added that this requires strengthening the role of the national state with an unifying identity, supporting the pillars of its constitutional institutions, and developing its own capabilities to carry out its tasks in laying the foundations for good governance – alongside achieving security, enforcing the law, confronting forces outside it, providing an atmosphere that supports basic rights and freedoms, and empowering women and youth.
3)Improving Arab national security
Next, he discussed Arab national security and said that the self-capacity that Arab countries have in cooperation with their partners is enough to provide the appropriate framework to address any dangers afflicting the Arab world.
Sisi stressed that the principles of respect for the sovereignty of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, fraternity and equality govern inter-Arab relations.
In the context of addressing integrated regional security, Sis said, “We cannot fail to reiterate the need to take practical steps that lead to tangible results towards the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, while strengthening the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in this regard.”
4)Combating terrorism
Sisi further noted the need to renew all commitments to combating terrorism and extremist ideology in all its forms and manifestations, with the aim of eliminating all of its organizations and armed militias deployed in several parts of our Arab world, and which are sponsored by some external forces to serve their destructive agenda.
The president also stressed that there is no place for the concept of militias, mercenaries and arms gangs in the region.
5)International cooperation
Lastly, Sisi discussed the importance of strengthening international cooperation and solidarity to raise the capabilities of the countries of the region in addressing major and emerging global crises, such as food shortages, turmoil in energy markets, water security, and climate change.
This would better contain the consequences of these crises and lead to swifter recovery from their impact.
