Arab parliament convenes in Cairo

The Fourth Session of the Arab Parliament kicked off hereMonday to discuss a wide array of important issues related to the latestdevelopments in the Arab region as well as the efforts to enhance pan-Arab action. The fourth session, themed "Palestine at the Heart of Arab and Muslim World", isheld at the Arab League headquarters and chaired by the Arab Parliament SpeakerAhmad Al-Jarawan."The Palestinian cause is the Arab Parliament's major issue," Al-Jarawan said in theinaugural speech."The Arab Parliament will not stop supporting or exerting efforts to find a just andcomprehensive solution to it." Al-Jarawan condemned the illegal Israeli practices and aggression on the Palestinian people and territories, particular against theMuslim and Christian holy places in the occupied East Jerusalem.He also expressed solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails and called in the human rights organizations across the globe to do their best to defend them.He urged the international community to take action against the Israeli violationsof the relevant UN resolutions and international laws. On the Syrian crisis, Al-Jarawan reiterated the Arab Parliament's support to theSyrian people and to continue efforts to bring to a halt the ongoing bloodshed andhumanitarian ordeal.In the meantime, Al-Jarawan underlined the importance of forging ahead with plansto formulate a strategic partnership among Arab countries to defend Arab interestsand national security.He lauded the wisdom of the leaders of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council's member states and their recent agreement on building a solid ground for cooperation inmajor issues of concern.The Arab Parliament will discuss in Monday's session the reports about the Arabnational security; human rights situation; political developments in Palestine, Syriaand Iraq and development plans.The conferees will also report from the Arab Parliament's committees of economicand financial affairs; the social, cultural and educational affairs; Arab women affairsand legislative affairs.Kuwait is represented in the meetings by a senior delegation headed by NationalAssembly Speaker and Head of the Arab Inter-Parliamentry Union Marzouq Al-Ghanim.