BEIRUT (Halbeeg News) – The Arab Economic and Social Development summit has kicked off on Sunday in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut.
The economic summit, which had attracted numerous leaders in previous years, is a prelude to the actual Arab League summit taking place in Tunisia in March.
Poor attendance of regional leaders and divisions over Syria overshadowed the summit.
Although a handful of Arab leaders had originally confirmed their attendance, the emir of Kuwait and the Egyptian and Palestinian presidents pulled out at the last minute.
Instead of 20 countries taking part in the summit sent delegations that arrived in Beirut throughout Friday and Saturday, including Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and the Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah.
Qatar’s emir will visit Beirut on Sunday for an Arab economic summit which has been marred by regional rifts and internal Lebanese disputes even before it began.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun’s office said on Saturday Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani had informed it he would come to lead the Qatari delegation.
Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo who was set to attend but pulled out in the last minute and instead foreign minister ambassador Ahmed Isse Awad and finance counterpart, Dr. Abdulrahman Beyleh are representing the country.
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