Iran Press/ Middle East: The ministers voted for Syria’s return into the fold at the Arab League’s headquarters in Cairo on Sunday.
The decision was made in advance of the Arab League Summit in Saudi Arabia on May 19 and amid a flurry of regional normalization of ties with Damascus in recent weeks.
Since March 2011, Syria has been gripped by a campaign of militancy and destruction sponsored by the US and its allies.
Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 amidst the eruption of war in the country.In recent years, however, Syrian government forces, backed by Russia and Iran, have managed to win back control of almost all regions from terrorist groups.
The Arab League suspended the membership of Syria - one of the organization’s founding members - in November 2011, citing an alleged crackdown by Damascus on opposition protests. Syria denounced the move as “illegal and a violation of the organization’s charter.”In recent months, an increasing number of countries and political parties had called for the reversal of Syria’s suspension from the Arab League.
The rapprochements come as the United States is losing its influence in the region. Back in 2011, Washington had major sway on Arab states but as the dynamics in West Asia change and Syria emerged triumphant over foreign-backed terrorists, some Arab states are taking matters into their own hands, despite the anger of Washington.
Full text of the statement of the Council of the League of Arab held at the ministerial level:
Reiterate the commitment to the preservation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and stability of Syria, under the Charter of the Arab League and its principles.
Continue and intensify the Arab efforts aimed at helping Syria to emerge from its crisis and end the suffering of the brotherly Syrian people that has lasted over the past years, and in line with the common Arab interest and the fraternal relations that they unite all the Arab peoples, including the Syrian people.
Welcome the Arab statements issued by the Jeddah meeting in Syria on April 14, 2023, and the Amman meeting in Syria on May 1, 2023.
Assuming a pioneering Arab role in efforts to resolve the humanitarian, political, and security consequences of the Syrian crisis on the Syrians and address its implications on other neighboring countries mainly when it comes to terrorism, drug smuggling, and refugees.
Welcome the Syrian Arab Republic’s willingness to cooperate with the Arab States to implement outputs relevant to Arab statements and the need to implement the commitments and consensus reached at the Amman meeting as well as adopting the necessary mechanisms to activate the Arab role.
Stress the need for taking practical and effective action to solve the crisis based on a “step for step” principle and in light of UN Security Council Resolution 2254, starting with moving forward with the steps that allow delivering humanitarian aid to those in need in Syria in accordance with relevant mechanisms adopted by the Security Council.
Form a ministerial joint liaison committee of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, and the Secretary-General of the League to follow up on the implementation of the Amman Statement and to continue a direct dialogue with the Syrian government to find a comprehensive solution that address the implications of the Syrian crisis in accordance with “step for step” principle and in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
The committee should submit periodic ministerial-level reports to the Council of the Arab League.
Resume the participation of Syrian government delegations in the meetings of the Arab League Council and all the affiliated organizations and bodies as of the day of 7th May 2023.
Request the Secretary-General to follow up on the implementation of this decision and inform the council of developments.
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