"Perhaps the world should take my appearance before you today as a reflection of the Arab States' appreciation for women and of the importance attached by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, to the role played by women in building and developing our society." H.E. Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa
The President of the U.N. General Assembly, H.E. Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, is now the first Muslim woman ever to have addressed the Summit of the League of Arab States.
In her address to the nineteenth Arab League Summit held in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia on March 27, 2007, she began by thanking the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdullaziz Al-Saud, for inviting her to take part in the historic meeting.
After commending the efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to foster peace, security and Arab unity, she expressed her appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Amre Moussa, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, for his efforts in strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States.
Among the highlights of her address was the vision for shared Arab security and political perspective, confronting increasing factionalism and ethnocentrism through fostering an inclusive sense of citizenship and education, and giving Arab women their right to participate in all political, economic, social and cultural levels, referring to the issue of women's rights as “a cornerstone for hastening development in Arab societies."
Her Excellency Sheikha Haya Al Khalifa spoke of “the fateful circumstances in which the world finds itself today”, for example the Palestinian problem and the need to ensure continued unity within Palestinian ranks along the lines of the “Mecca Agreement”, confronting other regional challenges like the situation in Iraq, Lebanon and the Horn of Africa. With regard to the Arab-Israeli conflict, she called for positive engagement with the Arab Peace Initiative adopted in 2002 at the Arab Summit held in Beirut - “because this initiative reflects the Arab world’s ownership of its destiny to solve the challenges facing it”, she emphasized.
"What we must ask ourselves is this: how can the Arab World, with its abundant energies, possibilities and resources, be transformed into an effective force on the global stage and enter into an equitable dialogue with other peoples and cultures?...One of the hopes of this Summit is that it will confront the challenge represented by the spread of an abhorrent spirit of sectarianism and factionalism in the region, and the threat that it poses to the foundations and fates of entire societies”
In her address to the nineteenth Arab League Summit, President Sheikha Haya Al Khalifa's "tone" was positive, with emphasis on the need for dialogue along the road to security and peace. "The dialogue of civilizations is the principal tool for confronting the challenges of peaceful and secure coexistence."
Elisa Burchett
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
League of Arab States http://www.arableagueonline.org
The President of the U.N. General Assembly, H.E. Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, is now the first Muslim woman ever to have addressed the Summit of the League of Arab States.
In her address to the nineteenth Arab League Summit held in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia on March 27, 2007, she began by thanking the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdullaziz Al-Saud, for inviting her to take part in the historic meeting.
After commending the efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to foster peace, security and Arab unity, she expressed her appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Amre Moussa, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, for his efforts in strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States.
Among the highlights of her address was the vision for shared Arab security and political perspective, confronting increasing factionalism and ethnocentrism through fostering an inclusive sense of citizenship and education, and giving Arab women their right to participate in all political, economic, social and cultural levels, referring to the issue of women's rights as “a cornerstone for hastening development in Arab societies."
Her Excellency Sheikha Haya Al Khalifa spoke of “the fateful circumstances in which the world finds itself today”, for example the Palestinian problem and the need to ensure continued unity within Palestinian ranks along the lines of the “Mecca Agreement”, confronting other regional challenges like the situation in Iraq, Lebanon and the Horn of Africa. With regard to the Arab-Israeli conflict, she called for positive engagement with the Arab Peace Initiative adopted in 2002 at the Arab Summit held in Beirut - “because this initiative reflects the Arab world’s ownership of its destiny to solve the challenges facing it”, she emphasized.
"What we must ask ourselves is this: how can the Arab World, with its abundant energies, possibilities and resources, be transformed into an effective force on the global stage and enter into an equitable dialogue with other peoples and cultures?...One of the hopes of this Summit is that it will confront the challenge represented by the spread of an abhorrent spirit of sectarianism and factionalism in the region, and the threat that it poses to the foundations and fates of entire societies”
In her address to the nineteenth Arab League Summit, President Sheikha Haya Al Khalifa's "tone" was positive, with emphasis on the need for dialogue along the road to security and peace. "The dialogue of civilizations is the principal tool for confronting the challenges of peaceful and secure coexistence."
Elisa Burchett
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
League of Arab States http://www.arableagueonline.org