SAUDI ARABIA: Arab League concern over Palestinian refugees caught in Damascus fighting
Record ID:
189081
SAUDI ARABIA: Arab League concern over Palestinian refugees caught in Damascus fighting
- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Arab League concern over Palestinian refugees caught in Damascus fighting
- Date: 20th December 2012
- Summary: JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (DECEMBER 20, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION (OIC) HEADQUARTERS IN JEDDAH 2 .OIC FLAG ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY-GENERAL, NABIL ELARABY, SHAKING HANDS WITH OIC SECRETARY-GENERAL EKMELEDDIN IHSANOGLU, AND ENTERING MEETING ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY-GENERAL, NABIL ELARABY, SAYING: "President Abbas called me to discuss the situation in the Yarmouk refugee camp and we are trying to communicate as much as we can, because since the Arab League suspended Syria's membership, there have not been enough communications as there should be. I tried to call the Syrian Foreign Minister, Walid al-Moualem, and frankly speaking, he did not answer my call." FLAGS OF OIC MEMBERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY-GENERAL, NABIL ELARABY, SAYING: "No return to the old regime (Syrian regime), because the five major states that met in Geneva agreed on two very important things on June 30 which are: The start of the transitional period, and the formation of a government with full powers. And this is what is being considered by Lakhdar Brahimi now." ELARABY LEAVING OIC BUILDING ELARABY GETTING IN HIS CAR
- Embargoed: 4th January 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA12S4BG1GZOQT11Y9U9TQERDEJ
- Story Text: Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby visited the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah on Thursday (December 20) for talks on the Syrian conflict.
Elaraby met with the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu during which they held a press conference to discuss the latest communication developments on both sides.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation suspended Syria on Aug 16, citing President Bashar al-Assad's suppression of the Syrian revolt.
Elaraby said that the suspension has created a lack of communication with the Syrian side.
"(Palestinian) President (Mahmoud) Abbas called me to discuss the situation in the Yarmouk refugee camp and we are trying to communicate as much as we can, because since the Arab League suspended Syria's membership, there have not been enough communications as there should be. I tried to call the Syrian Foreign Minister, Walid al-Moualem, and frankly speaking, he did not answer my call," Elaraby told reporters.
The Palestinian Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus has become the latest battlefield for rebels and a target for President Bashar al-Assad's artillery.
Syrian jets bombed the camp on Sunday (December 16) killing at least 25 people.
Clashes inside the camp erupted on Monday (December 17) with thousands of people fleeing to nearby suburbs.
Syria hosts half a million Palestinians, refugees who fled at the creation of Israel in 1948 and their descendants. Most are housed in the densely-built apartment blocks of Yarmouk.
The regional and world powers that met in Geneva agreed on June 30 that a transitional government should be set up in Syria to end the bloodshed but left open the question of what part Assad might play in the process.
Elaraby shed light on the Geneva agreements stressing that there is no way back for the Syrian regime.
"No return to the old regime (Syrian regime), because the five major states that met in Geneva agreed on two very important things on June 30 which are: The start of the transitional period, and the formation of a government with full powers. And this is what is being considered by Lakhdar Brahami now," he said.
Saudi Arabia has led Arab efforts to isolate Syria diplomatically and has also backed calls for the Syrian rebel opposition to be armed. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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