The work of the meeting of senior officials of the Economic and Social Council preparatory to the work of the Arab summit began with the participation of a Syrian delegation in Saudi Arabia today (Sunday), according to the Syrian Arab News Agency, which stated that Damascus will participate with representatives in the preparatory meetings at the level of permanent delegates and senior officials, (Tuesday). Next, in implementation of the decision issued by the last meeting of Arab foreign ministers.
The agency added that the Syrian delegation includes Assistant Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade for International Affairs Rania Ahmed, Director of Arab Affairs Department Ambassador Riyad Abbas, and Director of International Relations Anas Al-Bikai.
The meeting will discuss recommendations and draft resolutions that will be submitted to the meeting of foreign ministers to be held next Wednesday, during which the agenda of the upcoming Arab summit will be adopted on May 19.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, invited Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to participate in the thirty-second regular session of the Arab League Council meeting at the summit level.
The invitation was delivered by the Saudi ambassador to Jordan, Nayef bin Bandar Al-Sudairy, during his meeting with Al-Assad in the capital, Damascus.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Kingdom will resume the work of its diplomatic mission in Syria, after a cessation of diplomatic relations between the two countries for more than ten years, and after Syria’s return to the League of Arab States.
Last Sunday, Arab foreign ministers, during their meeting in Cairo, adopted a decision to restore Syria to its seat in the League.
According to the ministerial decision, the resumption of the participation of Syrian government delegations in the meetings of the Council of the League of Arab States and its affiliated organizations and agencies will take effect immediately. The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can participate in the League’s summit this month “if he wishes.”
