After 12 years of freezing its membership, Syria returned to the Arab embrace by a decision of the Arab foreign ministers during an extraordinary meeting held today (Sunday) in Cairo. Arab League spokesman Jamal Rushdi announced that the Arab foreign ministers had taken, during a closed meeting, a decision to restore Syria’s seat in the League. It was decided to resume the participation of Syrian government delegations in the meetings of the League and its affiliated organizations and agencies, starting today, May 7, 2023.
The ministers decided to form a ministerial liaison committee consisting of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt and the Secretary-General, to follow up on the implementation of the Amman Declaration and to continue direct dialogue with the Syrian government, to reach a comprehensive solution to the Syrian crisis that addresses all its consequences, according to the step-by-step methodology, and in line with Security Council Resolution No. 2254, and the committee submits periodic reports to the university council at the ministerial level.
The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to preserving Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, stability and territorial integrity, based on the Arab League Charter and its principles. They stressed the importance of continuing and intensifying Arab efforts aimed at helping Syria get out of its crisis, based on the desire to end the suffering of the brotherly Syrian people over the past years, and in line with the common Arab interest and the fraternal relations that unite the Arab peoples, including the Syrian people and their wealth. A historical contribution to Arab civilization and culture.
The ministers welcomed the Arab statements issued by the Jeddah meeting on Syria on April 14, and the Amman meeting on May 1, stressing the keenness to launch a leading Arab role in efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis, addressing all the consequences of the humanitarian, security and political crisis on Syria and its people, and addressing its repercussions on other countries. The neighborhood, the region and the world, especially the burden of asylum, and the danger of terrorism and drug trafficking.
The conferees welcomed Syria’s willingness to cooperate with the Arab countries to implement the outputs of the relevant Arab statements, implement the commitments and consensus reached at the Amman meeting, and adopt the necessary mechanisms to activate the Arab role. The Ministers assigned the Secretary-General of the Arab League to follow up the implementation of what was stated in this decision, and to inform the Council of developments.
For its part, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the meeting of Arab foreign ministers agreed on Syria’s return to the Arab League. Ministry spokesman Ahmed Al-Sahhaf said that the meeting of Arab foreign ministers agreed to return Syria to its seat in the Arab League, according to what was reported by the Iraqi News Agency (INA). He added that the diplomacy of dialogue and the endeavors of Arab integration adopted by Iraq had a real effort in bringing Syria back to the Arab League.
It is noteworthy that the League of Arab States suspended Damascus’ membership in November 2011, and imposed political and economic sanctions on it at the time, following the outbreak of conflict and violence in the country.
