Arab League Secretary-General to Guterres: Credibility of International System Now Measured by What Happens in Gaza

Arab League Secretary-General to Guterres: Credibility of International System Now Measured by What Happens in Gaza

Amr Yehia

Nabil Fahmy, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, received at the League's headquarters Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, who is visiting Cairo as part of a regional tour ahead of the end of his term by the end of this year.

The Secretary-General welcomed the UN Secretary-General and expressed appreciation for his keenness to make the League of Arab States one of the stops of his visit, noting the intersection of their diplomatic careers on the international stage over recent decades. He also expressed his appreciation for the fruitful and continuous cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, affirming that the years during which the Secretary-General held office will remain associated in Arab memory with defending the UN Charter and international law, particularly his firm positions on the Palestinian cause and the war on Gaza.

The Secretary-General stressed that the credibility of the international system is now measured by what is happening in Gaza, warning of the fragility of the ceasefire after more than 1,500 martyrs have fallen since it came into effect. He emphasized the need for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2803, preserving the unity of the occupied Palestinian territory, and supporting UNRWA and its mandate, warning that continued impunity encourages violations of state sovereignty and territorial integrity in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria.

The Secretary-General also affirmed the League of Arab States' categorical rejection of all regional transgressions using unlawful force, including Iranian attacks on the territories and interests of neighboring Arab states, and the continued Houthi attacks that have targeted airports and civilian facilities and recently reached the point of firing missiles towards the areas of Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He affirmed the Arab League's full solidarity with the Kingdom and its right to defend its security and sovereignty, and called on the Security Council to enforce its resolutions, stressing the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.

The meeting also addressed the situation in Lebanon as UNIFIL's mandate nears its end, where the Secretary-General stressed the importance of avoiding any security vacuum in the south and supporting the Lebanese state in extending its authority over all its territory. The meeting also addressed the situations in Sudan, Syria and Libya, with emphasis on the unity, sovereignty and national institutions of these countries.

For his part, the Secretary-General expressed his close and firm commitment to the necessity of states respecting international law and the UN Charter. He also expressed his appreciation for the close partnership between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, affirming the international organization's keenness to continue coordination with the League and support its efforts to develop its work in facing the challenges witnessed by the region and international developments.