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Monday, 25 February 2019

The EU-Arab League summit was the sole topic on the airwaves last night

The EU-Arab League summit was the sole topic on the airwaves last night, with Masaa DMC, Al Hayah Al Youm and Hona Al Asema dedicating a significant portion of their coverage to the first day of the summit.

Don’t expect much by way of a concrete, united policy, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told MasaaDMC. Both the EU and Arab countries face the same challenges dealing with terrorism in Yemen and Libya. And although we may not agree on all aspects, it is important that both regions have gotten together to discuss the issue, she added (watch, runtime: 02:29).

This opinion was mirrored by Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abu Gheit, who told Lama Gebril that the significance of the summit goes beyond terrorism. This is the first real chance for the two blocs to discuss a host of key political issues, including climate change, countering illegal migration and trade (watch, runtime: 01:50).

Differences of opinion: The interview also looked at issues that have divided both blocs, with particular focus on democracy post-Arab Spring. Abu Gheit said that the demonstrations of 2011 had brought about the European-style democracy that was hoped, but rather those have led to the “disintegration of the nation state” (watch, runtime: 03:47).

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry kept the conversation focused squarely on terrorism in a talk with El Hekaya’s Amr Adib. Shoukry stressed that international cooperation is essential in order to fight Daesh. Speaking on the summit, Shoukry lauded the decision to hold it in Egypt, saying that it signifies huge trust the global community has in the country’s leadership (watch, runtime: 02:56).

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