Arab League Meets To Discuss Regional Impact of Russia’s Ukraine Invasion

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit in a statement on Monday called for diplomacy to settle the Russia-Ukraine conflict while avoiding escalation and expanding tensions in the region. “All the peace-loving countries and organizations should work swiftly for stopping the escalation and not aggravating it,” said Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki when reading Aboul-Gheit’s speech to a meeting of the Cairo-based organization, at the level of delegates. On Sunday, AFP reported that Zaki had said the meeting would be held at the level of foreign ministers. Several Arab League member states, particularly in the Gulf, have stopped short of condemning Russia’s invasion of its neighbor to the south. The United Arab Emirates, a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council, abstained Friday in a vote on a resolution demanding that Russia withdraw its troops. The resolution failed because it was vetoed by Russia, itself, a permanent member of the Security Council. Syria, Algeria, and Sudan are formally linked to Russia by military accords, and a number of Arab countries depend on both Ukrainian and Russian wheat to feed their people. An anticipated grain shortage due to the war has already raised prices, which could lead to violent protests and political unrest in parts of the Arab world.