عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

AL, Global Council Sign MOU to Counter Extremism

AL, Global Council Sign MOU to Counter Extremism
TT
TT

AL, Global Council Sign MOU to Counter Extremism

AL, Global Council Sign MOU to Counter Extremism

The Arab League General Secretariat is scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace next Tuesday.

The MoU aims at boosting cooperation, working on spreading the values of tolerance and acceptance, countering extremism and intolerance and combating racial discrimination and hate speech.

Director of the Department of Dialogue of Civilizations at the Arab League pointed out that both sides have agreed to implement joint projects and programs related to issues of common interest.

Among these projects and programs are organizing conferences, forums, workshops and dialogue panels, pushing forward the involvement of youth and civil society organizations in joint activities, coordinating mutual visits among officials from both sides and encouraging mutual benefit from the bilateral experiences, expertise and studies.

In press statements on Thursday, the official said that the Malta-based Global Council for Tolerance and Peace is considered one of the latest global organizations as it was established in 2017.

Its main objectives are to spread the values of tolerance and promote a culture of peace.

The Council is headed by Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Jarwan, former head of the Arab Parliament.

On the other hand, the Permanent Committee for Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Arab League held Thursday its 96th session at the General Secretariat’s headquarters.

The session was chaired by Hussain bin Shuwaish al-Shuwaish, assistant undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance for International Financial Affairs in Saudi Arabia, and attended by Arab senior officials in the administrative and financial affairs, Ambassador Abdullah Sorour al-Mutairi, assistant secretary-general for administrative and financial affairs at the AL and Ambassador Qais al-Azzawi, assistant secretary-general for financial control at the AL.

The Committee discussed several topics over the past two days, mainly the General Secretariat’s 2020 budget and its financial position, Shuwaish said.

The issue of some countries’ arrears and the need to pay them was also discussed, in addition to the approval of the extension to heads of four missions of the AL in Paris, Washington, Addis Ababa and Nairobi.

An Arab diplomatic source said the Committee has made several recommendations, including urging Arab countries to expedite the payment of their contributions to the AL’s budget and arrears.

The source pointed out that there is a marked improvement in this regard as some countries have paid some arrears from 2018’s budget.

He affirmed that the Committee has prepared a report on its work outcomes and recommendations and submitted it to the AL’s session no.152 at the level of Arab foreign ministers, which will be held in September, to consider their adoption.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Iraq Frustrated by Iran’s Reluctance to Rein in Militias

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)
TT
TT

Iraq Frustrated by Iran’s Reluctance to Rein in Militias

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)

A senior government official said Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has warned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the “risks to Iraq” from the growing conflict between Israel and Iran.

The official added that Iran is using “deception” when asked to distance its allied militias from the war.

Political and government figures are increasingly worried that Iraq could be hit, after two Israeli soldiers were killed in a drone strike on the Golan Heights early Friday.

Speaking anonymously to Asharq Al-Awsat, the official said al-Sudani is taking steps to keep Iraq out of the conflict.

These efforts include ramping up “political mediation” to persuade militias not to involve Iraq. The prime minister “informed Coordination Framework leaders of the risks” and urged them to “act quickly.”

The official also warned that an attack is still possible, saying intelligence shows the Iraqi militias launched the strike from outside Iraq, using weapons that came from Iraqi territory.

Al-Sudani’s Mediation Efforts

The Iraqi premier has chosen mediators, approved by Iran, to negotiate with militias about the conflict and conditions for de-escalation. These three individuals have previously acted as mediators in past crises.

Last week, Asharq Al-Awsat reported that al-Sudani asked three key Shiite figures to intervene and prevent militias from getting involved in the war between Hezbollah and Israel, after reports surfaced that Israel had identified 35 Iraqi targets.

Sources confirmed that Ammar al-Hakim is among the mediators, along with two other influential Shiite leaders whose names haven’t been disclosed.

However, two Iraqi militias—likely the al-Nujaba Movement led by Akram al-Kaabi and Kataib Hezbollah led by Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi—have refused to cooperate and continue launching rocket attacks on Israel.

The Iraqi official admitted that some militias are “stubborn,” but stressed that al-Sudani knows Iraq is “at the center of the storm.”

He reportedly told leaders of the Coordination Framework, “Iraq cannot avoid a military strike if it happens, so we must stay out of the war to protect the country.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in a Friday sermon, stated that “Iran’s allies in the region won’t back down,” increasing concerns that Iraqi militias tied to Iran will continue attacking Israel.

Iraqi sources also reported that the Coordination Framework has reviewed an “intelligence report” on dozens of Iraqi targets that Israel might strike or assassinate.

Government Efforts to Prevent Escalation

Al-Sudani has blocked the flow of Iraqi funds into conflict zones, unlike previous leaders, according to the official.

He has worked closely with the US and its Treasury Department to strictly monitor financial movements, often insisting that Iran uses official channels to claim its dues from Iraq.

The official also said global auditing firms are now helping Iraq’s central bank oversee financial transactions, shutting down all previous routes for illicit money flows.

Since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, the US told Iraq it pressured Israel not to strike Iraq, as long as Iraq stays out of the conflict, the official added.

The US doesn’t oppose Iraq’s stance of condemning Israel, supporting Lebanon and Palestine, and sending aid.

But it “won’t accept any financial or military support to militias.”

Regarding Iran’s role, the official said Tehran claims militias act independently, dodging responsibility for reining them in.