Turmoil in Arab world hurdles development: AL chief

Cairo Feb 9 (IANS) Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said on Thursday that the turmoil in the Arab region increases the difficulty of finding an effective integrated developmental system.

Abul Gheit s comments came during the inaugural session of the 101st round of the Economic and Social Council of the Arab League held under Sudan Xinhua reported.

"This round coincides with dangerous challenges and threats in the Arab world " Abul Gheit said.

He said that the circumstances are not normal in the Arab world for achieving development stressing that violence and turmoil continue in different parts of the Arab world.

Abul Gheit said that the Arabs represent five percent of the world populations "but they only get one percent of the freshwater resources and 40 percent of the Arabs suffer from water scarcity."

He stressed the need for more efforts to overcome the current challenges reiterated the importance of the role of the Arab specialized organisations in the different domains especially those related to the Arab citizens.

--IANS
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