Secretary-General of the Arab League (AL) Ahmed Aboul Gheit stressed Tuesday his support for all efforts to achieve unity and stability in Iraq, maintain Iraqi territorial integrity and reject any foreign intervention in its internal affairs.
His remarks were made during his meeting with Iraqi Vice President Ayad Allawi at the AL headquarters in Cairo.
The meeting tackled the most important developments in Iraq, especially with regard to the repercussions of the recent parliamentary elections and the dimensions of ongoing contacts to form a new Iraqi government, according to a statement issued by AL spokesman Mahmoud Afifi.
Both parties also discussed ongoing efforts to completely eliminate all forms of terrorism and extremism in Iraq, ending all the years of sufferings of the Iraqi people from terrorism and violence.
Afifi stressed that Aboul Gheit was keen to ensure that the elements of the democratic political process were complemented, the unity of the Iraqi people in all its communities was upheld and that the interests of all groups and sects were respected without distinction or discrimination.
The AL secretary general also emphasized, according to Afifi, the great importance of Iraq within the framework of the joint Arab action system based on the positive contributions of Iraqis in the various fields of work in this system, “bearing in mind that Iraq is one of the founding countries of the Arab League, and it represents the eastern gateway to the Arab world.”
For his part, the Iraqi vice president expressed keenness on regular consultation with the AL chief "whether on the ongoing developments in Iraq or the Arab scene in general."
Allawi described the AL as "the mother institution for the Arab world that expresses the collective Arab will," Afifi said.
Allawi also pointed out to his full support for Aboul Gheit’s efforts to revitalize the role of the AL in addressing various Arab priorities in the political, economic and social fields.
On Monday, Allawi met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in Cairo and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
He also met with Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed El Tayyeb, who affirmed Al-Azhar's support for the unity of Iraq and its support in facing terrorism and division.
He said al-Azhar is ready to provide all what would achieve unity and stability of the Iraqi people.
