Secretary General of the Arab League Nabil Al-Araby said Tuesday said that the last couple of years saw "a great leap" in cooperation between the Arab League and the EU.
"There is a general desire to improve relations. The importance and relevance of EU is increasing in our part of the world," he told the Foreign Affairs Committee in the European Parliament.
Al-Araby noted that yesterday he and EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, signed an MoU to boost future cooperation between the two regional groups and announced that the next EU-Arab League ministerial meeting will be held in 2016.
Al-Araby welcomed the recent EP resolution on recognition of Palestine saying that "it will not only be a peace for the Palestinians but also for Israelis and the Europeans." "It is time for Palestinians to live in dignity and peace like the Israelis," he said.
In reply to questions by MEPs, Al-Araby also addressed developments in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen and issues like terrorism and humans rights.
He said the Arab League has appointed an envoy for Libya, Nasser Al-Qudwa, in efforts to find a solution to the crisis in the country.
The Arab League chief stressed that terrorism is a global phenomenon which needs a comprehensive global cooperation and strategy to counter it.
On Syria, he said efforts by Egypt and Russia are continuing for a meeting between the opposition and the regime, and lamented as "shameful" that the UNSC has not been able to agree on a ceasefire resolution.
Source: KUNA