Arab Foreign Ministers and those in charge of Economic Affairs

KUWAIT, January 16, SPA -- Unfortunately, politics and security have
overwhelmed the circumstances during which the Arab Economic,
Development and Social Summit will be held in Kuwait from 19-20
January, Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said.
However, we are confident we are going to overcome the difficulties
to achieve our goals, he added.

In a key speech before the joint meeting for Arab Foreign Ministers
and those in charge of Economic Affairs being held on the eve of the
summit, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah said the Arab
economic, development and social meeting is being held amid critical
international and regional circumstances, citing the world financial
crisis and Israeli all-out attack against Gaza Strip.
He was quoted as reporting that the financial losses inflicted by
the Arab economy nearly totaled 2500 billion U.S. dollars.
In the Arab Gulf region alone, 60 percent of the building projects
were delayed or postponed, he added.
However, high on our agenda is a rich range of issues orchestrating
from vital developmental projects including the power grid, railways,
food security emergency program, customs union, water security and
special anti-unemployment programs to giant service ones: mainly
education development and health care improvement, he said adding
that he hopes that the last important issues would attract the
interest of the conferees.
--SPA