The State of Qatar participated in the fifth Arab-European Ministerial Meeting, in Brussels, Belgium.

HE State Minister for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi chaired Qatar delegation to the meeting, which discussed aspects of cooperation between the two sides and preparations for the first Arab-European summit scheduled for February 24.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini stressed the importance of cooperation between Europe and the Arab world.

Mogherini called on the two sides to work to resolve the Palestinian issue to prevent the collapse of the two-state solution and to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria.

Sudanese Foreign Minister Dardari Mohamed Ahmed, whose country holds the current presidency of the Arab League, stressed the urgent need for permanent action aimed at establishing peace and achieving the economic goals of peoples. He expressed hope for the outcome of the forthcoming Arab-European summit.

In his speech, Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit called for Arab-European cooperation to deal with the growing numbers of crises and problems threatening the Middle East. He expressed hope that the upcoming Arab-European summit will lay the foundation for solid institutional cooperation between both parties.

He pointed out that the real key to successful and fruitful relations between the two sides is the mutual recognition of the concerns of each party, and the sincere desire to reach an equation that achieves the interest of all. He added that the meeting was held with a firm conviction that the peoples, and especially young people, are the first to reap the benefits of Arab-European cooperation.

Secretary-General of the Arab League called on the European Union countries to recognize the State of Palestine on the basis of the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He stressed the importance of finding a political solution to the crisis in Syria in accordance with the Geneva 1 and Security Council resolution 2254, which will restore stability to this country and end the state of war on its territory.