The Brazilian minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, stated yesterday, March 22, during an address at the League of Arab States, in Algiers, the Algerian capital, that the strengthening of relations between the Arab and South American countries will concretely contribute to the so-called south-south cooperation, between developing countries.
“By strengthening the ties between our regions through concrete projects, we will be contributing in a pragmatic manner to the strengthening of south-south relations,” he said.
This was the first participation of a Brazilian Foreign Minister in a summit of the League, which brings together the 22 Arab countries.
He was invited by Abdelaziz Bouteflika, president of Algeria, which is hosting this year’s edition and is going to occupy the organization presidency from now on.
According to information supplied by the Brazilian Foreign Office (Itamaraty), the main objective for Amorim’s participation was the discussion of preparation of the Arab and South America summit, to take place in Brazilian capital city Brasília, in May, being attended by leaders in the region.
This meeting was proposed by the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. “President Lula asked me to stress the importance of participation of all the leaders at the summit to take place in Brasília, to be co-presided by president Bouteflika,” stated Amorim.
The presence of the Brazilian Foreign Minister at the meeting in Algiers is taking place just before the next preparatory meeting for the Brasília summit, scheduled for the 24th and 25th in Marrakech, Morocco.
The main theme of the Morocco meeting will be the proposal of the declaration to be debated by leaders of both regions in Brazil.
“We share values and objectives in the multilateral sphere. We may do more in areas of mutual interest, like the reform of international financial institutions, the fight against hunger and poverty, the reform of the United Nations and the elimination of distortions in the multilateral trade system.
“Our voices will be better heard if we speak together,” stated the minister, adding that the summit in Brasília will help expand cultural and commercial ties and cooperation in the areas of science, technology, health and education. “We may think of common solutions to our problems,” he said.
The foreign minister added that he considers the inclusion of developing countries as permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council fundamental.
He defended the Brazilian candidacy to a seat and the presence of an Arab country, “without affecting the two seats to be destined to Africa.”
On Monday, March 21, the secretary general of the UN, Kofi Annan, recommended, in a report submitted to the organization’s General Assembly, the increase of the number of members from the current 15 to 24.
Amorim recalled that the May summit is going to take place after the release, in December last year, of the South-American Community of Nations.
“It is important to point out that the summit will take place in South America at a moment in which integration is moving at a very fast pace,” declared the minister, pointing out that the summit between Arab and South American heads of state “will be the first event of the kind involving the recently created Community and the other region.”
Amorim also pointed out the contribution of the Arab world to culture, art, philosophy and science.
“In the case of Brazil and South America, this enriching influence dates back to the Arab presence on the Iberian Peninsula. The Arab presence also flourished in South America with the influx of immigrants. In Brazil alone there are over 10 million people of Arab origin, the largest community outside the Arab world,” he pointed out.
Arab Union
Last year, Amorim had already participated in another Arab League meeting, though at a ministerial meeting, not one of heads of state. On the first day of the summit, which ends today, representatives of other countries outside the bloc also participated, as was the case with the Spanish prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the head of foreign policy of the European Union, Javier Solana, and the French Foreign Minister, Michel Barnier.
Among the Arab leaders participating, according to information supplied by news agency Algérie Presse Service (APS), Tunisian president Zine Abidine Ben Ali, who transferred the presidency of the League to his Algerian colleague, defended the organization of efforts for the consolidation of a “joint Arab action”, i.e., the union of countries to face the challenges on the foreign agenda.
In the same line, always according to APS, the secretary general of the League, Amr Mussa, stated that, with desire and determination, the union of Arab countries in matters of common interest may become an example to be followed.
The Algerian president, in turn, defended the organization of measures such as the reform of League organizations and the creation of the Arab parliament. Zapatero, in turn, defended an alliance between civilizations.
Translated by Mark Ament
ANBA – Brazil-Arab News Agency
www.anba.com.br