In
impassioned remarks, Amr Moussa told an Arab economic summit in Egypt that
"the Arab soul is broken by poverty, unemployment and general
recession."
"This
is in the mind of all of us," Moussa said in his opening address to the 20
leaders and other representatives of Arab League member states gathered in the
Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.
The
summit is the first top-level Arab meeting since protests fueled by joblessness
and other economic woes in Tunisia forced President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali to
flee the country.
"The
Tunisian revolution is not far from us," Moussa warned. "The Arab
citizen has entered an unprecedented state of anger and frustration."
He
called for an Arab "renaissance" to lift people from their
frustration.
The
meeting in Egypt was originally intended as a platform to discuss trade,
business and investment, but has been overshadowed by the revolt in Tunisia.
Arab
leaders at the summit committed to a proposed $2 billion program to boost
faltering economies that have propelled crowds into the streets to protest high
unemployment, rising prices and rampant corruption.
Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak, who made no mention of Tunisia in his remarks,
stressed the importance of economic cooperation, tagging it "a national
security" requirement.
Saudi
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal urged all member countries to do more in
strengthening joint Arab action in order to realize the hopes and aspirations
of Arab citizens. On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah,
he invited all Arab leaders to attend the next economic summit in Riyadh in
January 2013.
