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Discussions on Preparations for Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a joint news conference in Moscow, Russia, July 5, 2017 (File Photo: Reuters)
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a joint news conference in Moscow, Russia, July 5, 2017 (File Photo: Reuters)
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Discussions on Preparations for Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a joint news conference in Moscow, Russia, July 5, 2017 (File Photo: Reuters)
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a joint news conference in Moscow, Russia, July 5, 2017 (File Photo: Reuters)

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit received a phone call Tuesday from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the recent developments in the Middle East and the means of developing the constructive multi-disciplinary cooperation between Russia and the League.

League Spokesman Ambassador Mahmoud Afifi stated that the officials tackled the procedures and arrangements for promoting the 5th session of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum which will be held at the ministerial level in Russia in mid-April.

Lavrov invited the Arab League to take part in the ARABIA-EXPO international trade exhibition, which will be held in Moscow between April 8 and 10.

The Minister and Secretary General also discussed important current affairs concerning the regional agenda focusing on Syria, the Middle East peace process, normalization of inter-Palestinian relations, and Iran’s role in the region.

Earlier, Lavrov also spoke by phone with Egyptian counterpart Minister Hassan Shoukry, and discussed bilateral and regional issues.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Hafez said that both Ministers discussed the current situation in the Middle East and North Africa, including the developments in Syria and Libya, the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, and efforts to convene a Conference on WMD Free Zone in the Middle East.

They also exchanged views on reaching a political resolution to the deadlock in Syria in a way that safeguards the unity and sovereignty of the Syrian state.

The two ministers also agreed to continue support for a comprehensive and fair solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-state solution, which is a main pillar to achieving peace and security in the region.

They reaffirmed their intention to continue close cooperation based on interests to resolve crises and ensure peace in the region.

Shoukry and Lavrov also discussed bilateral relations and cooperation in all fields between the two countries in the upcoming period.

The two ministers discussed preparations for the Russia-African Union summit in Russia, which will be chaired by Egypt this year.

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Arab World

Tunisians Vote in Election, with Main Rival to Saied in Prison

A voter casts her ballot at a polling station during the presidential election in Tunis, Tunisia October 6, 2024. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
A voter casts her ballot at a polling station during the presidential election in Tunis, Tunisia October 6, 2024. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
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Tunisians Vote in Election, with Main Rival to Saied in Prison

A voter casts her ballot at a polling station during the presidential election in Tunis, Tunisia October 6, 2024. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
A voter casts her ballot at a polling station during the presidential election in Tunis, Tunisia October 6, 2024. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

Tunisians began voting on Sunday in an election in which President Kais Saied is seeking a second term, with his main rival suddenly jailed last month and the other candidate heading a minor political party.
Sunday's election pits Saied against two rivals: his former ally turned critic, Chaab Party leader Zouhair Maghzaoui, and Ayachi Zammel, who had been seen as posing a big threat to Saied until he was jailed last month.
Senior figures from the biggest parties, which largely oppose Saied, have been imprisoned on various charges over the past year and those parties have not publicly backed any of the three candidates on Sunday's ballot. Other opponents have been barred from running.
Polls close at 6 p.m. (1700 GMT) and results are expected in the next two days. Political tensions have risen since an electoral commission named by Saied disqualified three prominent candidates last month, amid protests by opposition and civil society groups. Lawmakers loyal to Saied then approved a law last week stripping the administrative court of authority over election disputes. This Court is widely seen as the country's last independent judicial body, after Saied dissolved the Supreme Judicial Council and dismissed dozens of judges in 2022.
Saied, elected in 2019, seized most powers in 2021 when he dissolved the elected parliament and rewrote the constitution, a move the opposition described as a coup.