Call for Closer Ties With South America

Arab states should do more to bolster relations with South American countries, according to Asad Abboud, editor-in-chief of the official Syrian newspaper Al-Thawra.



Abboud’s remarks followed the conclusion last week of a one-day summit of Arab and South American countries.



Leaders of the 22-member Arab League and 12 South American states gathered for their second summit in four years in the Qatari capital, Doha. There they adopted a joint declaration on political affairs, the Middle East peace process and financial and economic cooperation between the regions.



“Unlike Europe and the United States, Latin American countries show solidarity with Arab nations without preconditions,” said Abboud. “We are so concerned about our relationships with the European Union and the United States, but can’t we look further to the south?”



Abboud said suggested one way to continue to cultivate ties would be to make the Arab-Latin American summit an annual event.



Peru announced on April 1 that it would host the third Arab-South American summit in 2011.