Unfortunately, politics and security have overwhelmed the circumstances during which the Arab Economic, Development and Social Summit will be held in Kuwait from 19-20 January, Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said. However, we are confident we are going to overcome the difficulties to achieve our goals, he added. In a key speech before the joint meeting for Arab Foreign Ministers and those in charge of Economic Affairs being held on the eve of the summit, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah said the Arab economic, development and social meeting is being held amid critical international and regional circumstances, citing the world financial crisis and Israeli all-out attack against Gaza Strip. He was quoted as reporting that the financial losses inflicted by the Arab economy nearly totaled 2500 billion U.S. dollars. In the Arab Gulf region alone, 60 percent of the building projects were delayed or postponed, he added. However, high on our agenda is a rich range of issues orchestrating from vital developmental projects including the power grid, railways, food security emergency program, customs union, water security and special anti-unemployment programs to giant service ones: mainly education development and health care improvement, he said adding that he hopes that the last important issues would attract the interest of the conferees.
