File photo of Arab League in session in its headquarters Cairo, Egypt. (Photo: Reuters)
Bahraini Ambassador Rashid bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa chaired Thursday the first session of new 145th session of the Arab League in its headquarter in Cairo succeeding the United Arab Emirates as chair.
Khalifa, who is Head of Bahrain's Diplomatic Mission to the Arab Republic of Egypt at the rank of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador, said that there are critical issues to be discussed in the agenda of the new round.
On top of this session's agenda is the appointment of the new secretary-general for the Arab League.
Egypt has officially nominated its former foreign minister Ahmed Aboul-Gheit as chair of the Arab League, to succeed Nabil El Araby who announced he would not seek a new term.
During his opening speech, the Bahraini diplomat said, "The most dangerous challenge [facing Arab states] is terrorism and the spread of terrorist groups," according to his statement published on Bahrain's News Agency.
Khalifa also condemned "Iran's support to terrorist groups" and rejected its interference in Arab affairs.
He asserted the situation in occupied Palestine is critical due to increasing Israeli aggression.
On the Syrian conflict, Khalifa said "we affirm our position on the unity of Syria and combating terrorist groups as the Islamic State group and Hezbollah."
Gulf Cooperation Councils has recently designated the Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah a "terrorist organization" in a move criticised both by the group and Iran.
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