The Arab League on Monday confirmed Egyptian veteran diplomat Nabil Fahmy as its new chief during a meeting of foreign ministers in Amman, a statement said.

Fahmy's five-year term as secretary general is to begin at the start of July, succeeding Ahmed Aboul Gheit who served two consecutive terms as head of the regional body.

The former top diplomat, who led Egypt's foreign ministry from June 2013 to July 2014, will become the eighth Egyptian head of the Cairo-based regional bloc. He was unanimously nominated for the post in March.

The 22-member bloc has only had one non-Egyptian secretary general – Tunisian Chedli Klibi in the 1980s – when Egypt was suspended for signing a peace deal with Israel, at the time breaking a regional consensus.

Fahmy, 75, said in March that the role was a "great responsibility" to bear, given "the blatant violations of international law perpetrated by aggressors who have treacherously attacked our countries and our security, and by others whose prolonged occupation of our lands have obstructed our brothers from exercising their legitimate rights".

He did not explicitly name Iran or Israel, but his statement echoed his predecessor's line on both.

The Arab League, founded in 1945, is a mostly political forum for Arab countries to discuss and communicate points of consensus.

Egypt has welcomed the appointment.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Egypt welcomes the decision made during the resumed 165th ordinary session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level, which was held Monday in Amman, Jordan.

The statement said this selection reflects appreciation for Egypt's significant role and underscores recognition of Fahmy's extensive diplomatic experience and long career dedicated to supporting joint Arab action regionally and internationally.

Egypt expressed its wishes for the new chief's success in enhancing Arab coordination, safeguarding regional national security and fulfilling the Arab people's aspirations for stability and development, while extending its gratitude to the outgoing chief Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, also a former Egyptian foreign minister, who has been the Arab League chief since 2016. (AFP/ Xinhua)



Edited by Cecil Wong