The 20th Arab Summit concluded its two-day work here today. Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa read Damascus declaration stressing the commitment of leaders of the Arab countries to strengthening Arab solidarity to safeguard Arab national security and ensure respect for the integrity of each Arab state, its sovereignty and its right to self-defense and non-interference in their internal affairs. The leaders affirmed their commitment to implementing the resolutions of Arab summits and institutions of joint Arab action and strengthening the role of the Arab League so that they can achieve the goals to which the Arab nation aspires. The Arab summit warned that the Israeli siege and closure of crossings as well as the escalated aggression have gone too far, especially in Gaza strip. The Damascus declaration labeled these actions as war crimes that require joint action to cease. Israel should immediately stop these hostilities against civilians, the declaration demanded, urging the Security Council to take its responsibility towards this situation and called on all concerned bodies to lift the siege, open crossings and let humanitarian aid reaches the Palestinians. The declaration also underlined the importance of the efforts being exerted to reach fair and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, based on international resolutions, the land for peace principle and Madrid accords. It also underlined the Arab rights regarding the return of Palestinian refugees, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital, full Israeli withdrawal from the Lebanese territories and the Arab Syrian Golan to the July 4, 1967 boundaries. --More
