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Policy change urged to solve regional crisis

Abu Dhabi - Prince Turki hopes Beirut recommendations will bring stability.

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Policy changes within the Arab states need to be made in order to reconfigure the Arab region and its global space, beyond political economy and security threats, said Saudi Prince Turki Al Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Sunday.
During a Press conference held on Sunday in the Capital, Prince Turki highlighted that key changes in policy, which emerged during the Beirut Institute Summit last year in Abu Dhabi, need to be met in order to see a secure and stable region.
He pointed out that it's vital to look at ways to urgently stabilise the security environment, accelerate and deepen Arab strategic alignment, unleash the next generation of economical growth, strengthen societal cohesion across the region, and drive toward an inclusive regional security architecture.

How to solve crisis > Stabilise security environment > Accelerate and deepen Arab strategic alignment > Unleash next generation of economical growth > Strengthen societal cohesion across the region > Drive toward an inclusive regional security architecture( Beirut recommendations)

"Government officials, public and private sector luminaries and next generation leaders deliberated exhaustively. That fruitful dialogue resulted in bold thinking and the development of actionable policy recommendation, on which urgent action is critical."
The former Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the US and the UK pointed out that it is up to the leaders of the region, to come together and take the recommendations seriously.
"I encourage leaders across the region to face our intensifying challenges, harness the unprecedented opportunities before us and build a future worthy of the people," he noted.
First and foremost, Prince Turki pointed out that actions must be taken in order to "stop the bleeding in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen. There is a lot of blood being shed, with no reason behind it."
All talk no action
He said that there is "a lot of talk and no action," and thus the summit's sole purpose is to look at strategies and ways that can help eradicate the challenges the Middle East faces today, noting, "there is a great deal of turbulence and turmoil in the Arab world."
He thus stated that a joint security of the Arab world will help make a tremendous difference, and he calls for not only the Arab nations, but also the neighbouring countries such as Iran, to overcome obstacles cohesively and counter terrorism. "Iran and Saudi Arabia must move forward and come to a solution." On the other hand, he noted that Iran's interference with its neighbouring countries is deeply affecting a peaceful solution.
Speaking on the recent announcement on Arab nations sending ground forces to Syria, he said: "This should have been done from a long time ago. It helps bring different Muslim nations together and counter-terrorism."
"Most of the casualties killed by terrorist groups are in fact Muslim civilians, we therefore have a critical role to play and eliminate these organisations." He suggested that the falling of governments in bloodshed countries like Iraq, has dynamically helped terrorist groups expand and unleash.
Many would thus argue that the fall of Iraq's former president Saddam Hussein, has certainly opened up a can of worms in Iraq, as it currently faces the greatest destabilisation it has seen.
However, he noted that nations must look at the root cause, in order to "eradicate the disease."
Why delaying the two-state solution?
According to Prince Turki Al Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the deep root cause to security challenges the Middle East faces, is the unequal solution for the Palestinian people.
He said that a two-state solution for the Palestinians and Israelis could, therefore, help purge the "excuses of interference" between Iran and the Arab nations.Moreover, it will also help eliminate terrorist groups calling for power under the "excuse and the banner of Palestine."
"The Palestinian issue must be solved, we have been talking about a two-state solution for decades, but why are we not implementing the resolution?" 
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com