The State of Qatar participated Sunday in the "Peace and Development in Arab and African Framework" conference at the headquarters of the Arab League General Secretariat in Cairo. The State of Qatar was represented by HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Arab Republic of Egypt and Permanent Representative to the Arab League, Tariq Ali Faraj Al Ansari. The conference addressed four key themes, including opportunities and challenges for peace in the Arab and African regions, prospects for peace within this framework, and the regional and international competition and conflict in the Arab region and African continent, as well as innovative mechanisms for achieving peace and advancing development. In a statement to the Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the sidelines of the conference, HE Ambassador Tariq Ali Faraj Al Ansari noted that participants focused on the recent major challenges to the stability of the Middle East, resulting in recommendations on issues related to international peace and security, disarm ament, nuclear security, counter-terrorism, and support for the just Palestinian cause, as well as the recent Israeli aggression on occupied Palestine and Lebanon and its implications for international peace and security. His Excellency explained that the recommendations from the conference highlighted the options available to Arab countries in diversifying alliances globally. He also mentioned that the conference saw active participation from permanent representatives to the Arab League, as well as civil society organizations and academics who discussed issues of security, peace, and development in the Arab world and Africa. For his part, Chairman of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs (ECFA) Ambassador Mohamed El Orabi emphasized the world's urgent need for the interconnected topics of peace and development. He stated that the conference aims to outline strategies for both the Arab region and Africa, as they are interlinked and often face challenges of instability and lack of development. He pointed out that the choice of peace and development as the conference's central theme aligns with the outcomes of the "Summit of the Future," held on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. He stressed the critical need for spreading concepts of peace and development, especially given the severe lack of peace and, consequently, development in many countries worldwide. During the conferences opening session, director of the civil society organizations department in the social affairs sector of the Arab League, Khamis Al Busaidi, stated that the conference's convening as an initiative from the civil sector reflects a commitment to fostering responsible partnerships between Arab governments and civil society institutions. This aims to enhance capabilities and ensure full and equal participation in achieving and maintaining peace. He noted that Arab-African relations remain a priority for joint Arab action, with the Arab League working to strengthen them through joint cooperation mechanisms that r egularly meet to coordinate positions and enhance collaboration in various fields between the Arab and African regions. Source: Qatar News Agency