Arab leaders are meeting today to issue the so-called " Baghdad Declaration ." The 34th Arab League Summit kicked off hours ago , with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi participating. Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara'a is absent, with his foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, in attendance, despite the Syrian and Palestinian issues dominating the summit's agenda.
Diplomatic sources in Iraq indicate that the draft Baghdad Declaration and the Arab Summit resolutions will call for "respect for the choices of the Syrian people, with all their components and sects," and will emphasize "the necessity of proceeding with a comprehensive transitional political process that preserves diversity and societal peace, while respecting the beliefs of all segments and components of the population and rebuilding Syria."
On the Palestinian side, it is hoped that Arab leaders will adopt a resolution rejecting the displacement of Palestinians within or outside their territories, demanding an immediate cessation of the war in Gaza and all hostilities that exacerbate the suffering of innocent civilians, and emphasizing the need to take irreversible steps to implement the two-state solution.
Regarding Sudan, Arab consensus is expected on a political solution to end the conflict in that country in a manner that preserves its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to resume the Jeddah process to achieve sustainable solutions.
Diplomatic sources indicated that the draft declaration, which the leaders are expected to approve today, Saturday, includes three sections: the first concerns the Arab Summit's decisions, the second concerns the development summit, and the third includes 15 initiatives launched by Iraq.
The Baghdad Declaration called on all countries to provide political, financial, and legal support for the joint Arab-Islamic plan for the reconstruction and early recovery of the Gaza Strip, adopted by the emergency Arab Summit in Cairo last March and by the foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah the same month.
The Baghdad Declaration welcomed the proposals and initiatives put forward by Arab countries to establish a fund for the reconstruction of Gaza, stressing the importance of joint coordination to pressure for the opening of all crossings to allow the entry of humanitarian aid into all Palestinian territories.
Recovery Fund
The declaration welcomed the formation of an open-ended working group to follow up on the establishment of a fund, in cooperation with the United Nations, to care for Gaza's approximately 40,000 orphans. It reaffirmed its absolute rejection of any form of displacement or expulsion of the Palestinian people from their land, under any name, circumstance, or justification.
According to the sources, the Baghdad Declaration affirmed support for Lebanon in confronting challenges and preserving its security, stability, and territorial integrity, and protecting its internationally recognized borders against any attacks on them and the state's sovereignty. It welcomed the municipal elections and encouraged all political entities to reach an understanding and avoid the language of exclusion.
The Baghdad Declaration affirmed support for Libya and its resolution of the crisis through national dialogue, in a manner that preserves the unity of the state, achieves the aspirations of its people, and ensures lasting stability. It also rejected all forms of interference in Libya's internal affairs, calling for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libyan territory within a specified timeframe. It also called on all parties in Libya to continue the political process and achieve national reconciliation.
He affirmed his support for Somalia and its territorial integrity, and his support for the UAE's sovereignty over its three islands (Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa), calling on Iran to respond to the UAE's initiative to find a peaceful solution to this issue through direct negotiations or recourse to the International Court of Justice.
He stressed the need to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, in accordance with agreed-upon terms of reference. He emphasized that water security constitutes a fundamental pillar of Arab national security, underscoring in this context the importance of supporting the efforts made by Iraq, Egypt, Sudan, and Syria to guarantee their legitimate water rights.
The Baghdad Declaration affirmed the Arab states' firm position in condemning all forms and types of terrorism and associated ideologies, combating organized crime, and combating drugs, human trafficking, and money laundering.
The second section of the Baghdad Declaration includes the decisions related to the Fifth Development Summit, welcoming the Arab Artificial Intelligence Initiative presented by the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and Iraq's initiative to establish the Council of Arab Trade Ministers. It commends Egypt's initiative to combat diseases and commends the UAE's role in the initiative to create hope and a better future for Arabs.
Supporting the project to enhance Arab space leadership through the Bahraini satellite (Al-Mundhir), the Arab leaders' approval of the Arab Food Security Strategy for the period (2025-2035), emphasizing the importance of supporting recovery and reconstruction efforts in Yemen, and supporting development projects submitted by Sudan.
The Baghdad Declaration also endorses a project to support and shelter displaced families within the Palestinian territories. It emphasizes the importance of developing the Arab Free Trade Area, calls for the lifting of sanctions imposed on the energy and electricity sectors in Syria, endorses the executive plan for the Arab Water Security Strategy 2030, and approves the comprehensive development plan for the technical and vocational education system in Arab countries.
Iraqi initiatives
The Baghdad Declaration concludes with approximately 15 initiatives launched by Iraq, including the "Arab Initiative for Humanitarian and Development Support," which established the "Arab Fund to Support Recovery and Reconstruction Efforts from the Effects of Crises."
Launching the "Arab Pact to Support the Syrian People" initiative to support the process of establishing a comprehensive political transition in Syria that guarantees the rights of the Syrian people, with all its components, and ensures the protection and respect of human rights principles.
The Baghdad Declaration welcomes Iraq's invitation to Arab countries to participate in the "Development Roadmap," and also launched the Arab Economic Reform Era Project for the Next Decade and the "Arab Initiative for Achieving Food Security from Grains."
The establishment of the Arab Center for Artificial Intelligence, hosted in Baghdad, the establishment of the Arab Initiative for Scientific Research in Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies, the launch of the "Establishment of the Arab Alliance for the Protection of Water Resources" initiative, the "Baghdad Initiative to Enhance Arab Cooperation in Confronting Environmental Challenges and Climate Change" initiative, and the "Arab Center for the Protection of the Environment from the Remnants of War" initiative were announced.
The Baghdad Declaration also calls for the establishment of an "Arab Center for Combating Terrorism and Preventing Violent Extremism" in Baghdad, the launch of the "Joint Arab Security Coordination Room" initiative, and other initiatives.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced Iraq's donation of $20 million for the reconstruction of Gaza and $20 million for the reconstruction of Lebanon.
In his address to the 34th Arab League Summit held in Baghdad, the Iraqi Prime Minister said that Iraq supports solutions based on dialogue and understanding to address the crises facing the region.
Al-Sudani emphasized that justice cannot be achieved without the Palestinian people obtaining their full legitimate rights and halting the ongoing aggression, noting that the genocide being perpetrated against civilians in Gaza has "reached a horrific stage unseen in modern history," as he described it.
The Iraqi Prime Minister reiterated his country's categorical rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians, stating that what is happening in Gaza requires serious and responsible Arab action to halt the humanitarian catastrophe.
