Al-Jarallah: Arab, African countries to study immigration

Arab and African officials, preparing for the 3rd Africa-Arab Summit, agreed Saturday to carry out further studies over immigration, coordinate food security measures and implement the Arab-African partnership, a senior Kuwaiti official said Saturday. Khaled Al-Jarallah, Foreign Undersecretary, said senior officials from Arab and African countries agreed to form a committee of the Arab League Secretariat and the African Union Commission (AUC) as well as a number of countries to study immigration, noting there were countries that hosted many immigrants and needed assistances. Al-Jarallah was speaking to KUNA following three days of meetings of senior officials preparing for the Foreign Ministers' meeting, due tomorrow. The Foreign Ministers will approve the draft agenda and Kuwait Declaration for the November 19-20 Summit. He said the Committee would discuss the immigration issue in near future and would refer its recommendations for the Arab League and AUC. Asked about any initiative by His Highness the Amir to be launched during the Summit, Al-Jarallah said "I am unaware of any initiative by His Highness the Amir," but His Highness Sheikh Sabah has always been backing common action in the Arab world or within African-Arab partnership. "The meetings over three days were constructive, good and fruitful," said Al-Jarallah. "Discussions were thorough and we have discussed many issues including Kuwait Declaration, many draft resolutions. There has been a consensus on Kuwait Declaration which reflected the agreement of the African and Arab sides on cooperation matters. This declaration will be referred to the ministers and then to the leaders," he added. Al-Jarallah said there were resolutions over the following up of Africa-Arab partnership, following up outcome of Arab-African meeting on agriculture that was held in Riyadh last month, as well as enhancing cooperation between the two sides through the African-Arab Institute of Culture in Mali. The two sides, he added, also agreed to coordinate the funding of joint projects as well as coordinate recommendations of the Arab-African Economic Forum that was held in Kuwait last week. Al-Jarallah explained that all African countries acknowledged there was no problem in funding since the Arab Development Bank was active in the African countries. he said the Arab Development Bank's capital has been increased to USD 4.2 billion. "We need coordination to channel these money and I think the African countries still need more funding and coordination," said Al-Jarallah. The senior official, meanwhile, said only Saudi Arabia offered to host the next summit. The Foreign Ministers will decide on the hosting matter, he said. The draft final communique noted that Arab and African countries host the summits alternately. Al-Jarallah said a comprehensive statement on Palestine was approved.