CAIRO, March 2, (KUNA): Visiting Kuwaiti National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi stressed here Tuesday the necessity of further strengthening inter-Arab relations so as to ably and resolutely defend national issues and interests.
Addressing the 16th session of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU), which kick-started here earlier in the day, Al-Khorafi said: “(Arab) relations should be further reinforced and consolidated with a view to notching up our national end. But, this poses a considerable challenge to all of us as Arab countries.”
He regretted that Arab disunity is mainly to blame for failure to promote the Arab positions on the international arena.
The fact that the Arab region is always the scene of standoffs and crises makes Arab countries liable to foreign interference and regional and international conflicts, he argued.
Therefore, inter-Arab ties need to be further cemented and beefed up in order to find an effective way to grapple with Arab disputes and to buttress Arab action, Al-Khorafi urged.

He expressed hope that the Arab parliamentary gathering would be an effective framework for achieving such an end through constructive dialogue based on fresh bases and rules and proceeds from a frank and unequivocal discussion of inter-Arab differences.
In this context, he hailed His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for his initiative during the Kuwait Summit in January 2009 aiming to achieve inter-Arab reconciliation.
He also hopes the coming Arab summit in Libya late this month would be an additional push to the inter-Arab reconciliation march.
On the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Kuwaiti Parliament Speaker said it is a key risk to Middle Eastern and Arab security and stability, calling for resolving it on the basis of international legitimacy, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and peace deals.
But, he called on Palestinian leaders to live up to responsibility by settling their divisions and enter into national reconciliation at once.

Al-Khorafi also condemned Israel’s recent violations in Jerusalem and Hebron and attempts to incorporate Palestinian historical sites to its alleged heritage list.
Also speaking to KUNA on the sidelines of the 16th session of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU), Al-Khorafi vowed that Kuwaiti backing for the defenseless Palestinian people would continue nonstop until they restore their legitimate rights.
But, he urged Palestinian factions and forces to bury the hatchet and set aside their splits and divisions which he said would only scuttle and impede Arab and international peace efforts.
He called on them to adopt the voice of mind and wisdom in order to put an end to their disputes.
In this context, the top Kuwaiti lawmaker commended Egyptian efforts to achieve inter-Palestinian reconciliation for the good of the Palestinian cause.
Concerning the three-day meeting being held at the Egyptian parliament - attended by Arab parliament speakers, he said they had discussed a spectrum of Arab issues and subjects, mainly the Palestinian issue.
He hoped that the gathering would come up with moves and recommendations that could lead to an end to Arab disagreements.