Final Statement of the Arab Summit in Manama

The Arab leaders stressed the need to end the crisis in Syria, in a way that preserves its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, fulfills the aspirations of the Syrian people, and rids the country of terrorism, expressing their rejection of foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs and any attempts to bring about demographic changes in the country.

The statement noted the importance of the Arab Liaison Committee’s role and the Arab Initiative to resolve the crisis in Syria, stressing the need to implement the Amman Statement, and create the conditions necessary to achieve a dignified, safe and voluntary return of Syrian refugees to their country, including lifting the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria. The Arab leaders called on the international community to assume its responsibilities towards the refugees and support them in the host countries until their return is achieved.

In their statement, the leaders renewed their firm stance against terrorism in all its forms and categorically rejected any justifications for practicing it, calling for drying up sources of funding terrorism and for supporting international efforts to combat extremist terrorist organizations, prevent their funding, and confront the dangerous repercussions of terrorism on the region and its threat to international peace and security.

The statement expressed support for Lebanon, its sovereignty, stability and territorial integrity, and urged all Lebanese parties to give priority to electing a president of the republic, implementing the necessary economic reforms, and strengthening the capabilities of the Lebanese army and internal security forces to maintain Lebanon’s security and stability and protect its internationally recognized borders in the face of Israeli attacks.

The statement also expressed solidarity with Sudan, Yemen, Libya, and Somalia in preserving their sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, preserving state institutions. It stressed the neeed to intensify efforts to resolve crises in these countries and achieve national reconciliation.

The statement stressed that Arab water security is an integral part of Arab national security, especially for Egypt and Sudan, rejecting any action or measure that would affect their rights to the waters of the Nile, as well as Syria and Iraq’s righrs to the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The leaders expressed solidarity with these countries to take whatever measures they deem necessary to protect their security and water interests, expressing deep concern about the continuation of unilateral measures that would harm the water interests of these countries.

The statement affirmed the Arab countries’ determination to continue efforts to strengthen partnerships, strategic dialogues and joint cooperation with international blocs and friendly countries at all levels, within the framework of the principles of mutual respect, non-interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries.