Third Arab-South American summit held in Peru

Third Arab-South American summit held in Peru

IANS

LIMA- The third summit of the Arab and South American nations opened in Lima, Peru Monday. Peruvian President Ollanta Humala said both sides should explore economic cooperation. The two-day summit aims to promote business and tackle political issues. “South America is the world’s most dynamic and emerging region, with high rates of growth,” Humala said at the opening session.

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Egypt’s President Mursi: Arab-Latin relations model for cooperation between South Countries

Egypt State Information Service (Cairo)

President Mohamed Morsi said on Tuesday October 2, 2012 Arab-Latin relations could be a model for cooperation between all South countries to enforce the optimal policies in various domains.

This came in a keynote speech delivered by Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel on behalf of President Morsi before the 3rd summit of the South American-Arab Countries (ASPA), which kicked off Tuesday.

President Morsi said opportunities of agricultural cooperation between Arab and Latin countries give the best example of potentials of strategic partnership between the two sides.

“The Latin American countries have achieved real progress in this field, making it a model for others to follow,” he added.

“This also makes efforts being exerted in this continent an important addition to efforts aiming to solve the food crisis and achieve food security.”

Morsi outlined two parallel directions to bolster cooperation between Arab and Latin countries.

“We need to work together to activate cooperation between the South countries in order to catch up with economic and technological advancement in the world to help solve problems in the developing counties,” he said.

“We also need to take the initiative to give successful examples of effective cooperation among the South countries.”

The Egyptian leader said the similarity in the societal, historical and cultural makeup of Arab and Latin countries forms a strong base for cooperation between the two sides.

President Morsi also called for Arab-Latin cooperation to ban the defamation of religion in the name of freedom of expression.

“Freedom of expression does not allow incitement of violence, hatred and insults of others’ beliefs,” he said.

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Foreign Affairs Ministers of South American and Arab states pose for group picture in Lima, October 1, 2012. The ministers are in Peru to attend a summit of leaders from South American and Arab states.

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Video: South American-Arab Summit

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Video: Arab and Latin leaders talk democracy in Lima

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Video: President inaugurates the Third Summit of Heads of State and Government (in Spanish)

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Peru

Population: 29,549,517 (July 2012 est.)

Ethnic groups: Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%

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Lima, Peru