Ordinary round of Arab Parliament will kick off

Deliberations of the 2nd ordinary round of the Arab Parliament in 2013 headed by its Speaker Ahmad Al-Jarwan kicks off MOnday. The session will discuss a number of issues of concern to the joint Arab action, particularly the Palestinian issue, the situation in Syria, three occupied UAE islands and the situation in Somalia. Al-Jarwan said in a statement at the end of the four committees of the Parliament that the parliament will discuss a number of legislative and administrative issues related to the statute of the Arab Parliament and its bylaws, in addition to the nomination of a new Secretary General. He said the gathering would also discuss the latest developments in the region, especially with regard to upgrading the status of Palestine as a non-member observer state at the United Nations as a historic achievement for the Palestinian people at this time. With regard to the Syrian crisis, Al-Jarwan underscored the Parliament's support for all movement aimed at stopping the bloodshed of the Syrian people and to support any peaceful proposal that preserves the dignity of the Syrians. "We in the Arab parliament condemn any foreign interference messing in this case and the Syrian blood," he stated. On the issue of Iran's occupation of three UAE islands, Al-Jarwan said "We condemn the planned visit of some members of the Iranian Shura Council to Abu Musa and the Lesser Tunb islands occupied by Iran since 1971." He called for the need to develop a timetable to resolve the issue of the UAE islands with Iran, if not through bilateral dialogue, then through the international forums, including the International Court of Justice. (end) mfm.zab