RIYADH – A preparatory and ministerial meetings of the 29th Arab Leaguesummit began on Thursday in Riyadh where senior Arab officialsare discussing various political, security, and military developmentsfacing the region.

The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir said in his openingremarks at the ministerial meeting on Thursday that Palestine and thesituation there will top discussions at the Arab summit.

He also said that Iran and terrorism are two sides of the same coin, andcalled on Arab ministers to work together to stop Iran meddling in Arabaffairs.

The Saudi foreign minister praised Saudi – Iraqi rapproachement and saidthat Riyadh has allocated $1.5 billion for the reconstruction of Iraq.

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the Arab League Aboul Gheit said thatthe League condemns Iran’s interference in Bahrain and other countriesin the region.

The Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit and the SpecialEnvoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura met on the sidelines of the Arab foreignminister’s meeting.

The spokesman for the Arab League’s Secretary-General Mahmoud Afifi saidthat Aboul Gheit was given a presentation by de Mistura about the latestresults of his communications with international and regional parties thataim to allow political negotiations between Syrian parties recommence inGeneva under the auspices of the United Nations. They also discussed hispolitical and military assessment of the recent escalation of the crisis inSyria.

Jordan and Egypt signed the agreement on the liberalization of trade inservices among Arab states at the the inaugural ministerial meeting of theeconomic and social council of the 29th the Arab summit.

The agenda of the summit will be set out during the preparatory meetingwhere the foreign ministers of the 22 countries are meeting.