After a long absence, Syria has returned to the Arab fold during an exceptional meeting of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level held in Cairo today, Sunday. Reports indicate that "the ministers agreed during a closed consultative meeting on a conditional return of Syria to the Arab League after a ban that lasted about 12 years," noting that "the draft resolution, which will be officially issued later, stated that the participation of Syrian delegations in meetings of the League would resume as of today, May 7."
The Arab League's draft resolution stated: "Efforts to achieve a complete and sustainable ceasefire in Sudan and work on addressing the causes of the crisis, in addition to rejecting foreign interventions in Sudanese affairs, and fully respecting Sudan's sovereignty and unity, and forming a contact group to work on resolving the crisis."
The only path to resolution in Syria is a political solution. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry emphasized "the necessity of finding Arab solutions to Arab issues," considering that "the only path to a resolution in Syria is a political solution without external impositions." Shoukry stated during the extraordinary session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level today: "Continuous foreign interventions have complicated the Syrian crisis. The suffering of the Syrian people has persisted due to the failure to reach a political settlement to the crisis. The international community must fulfill its obligations towards Syria and the Syrian people to return Syria to how we would like to see it. We all have a historical responsibility to stand by the Syrian people and close a sad chapter in its history."
He added, "The Syrian government must also commit to the outcomes of the Amman meeting, in order to achieve the interests of the Syrian people, and the Syrian government must bear the main responsibility for reaching a political solution, as it should also work on the return of Syrian refugees as soon as possible."
Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Al-Sahhaf confirmed that "the meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo agreed on Syria's return to its seat in the Arab League." He stated in a statement to the Iraqi News Agency that "the diplomacy of dialogue and the efforts of Arab integration adopted by Iraq played a real role in Syria's return to the Arab League."
For its part, the Syrian Foreign Ministry stressed the "importance of joint work and dialogue to tackle the challenges facing Arab countries." It noted in a statement that "the upcoming phase requires an active Arab approach based on mutual respect."
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit indicated today, after Syria's return to the league, that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could participate in the league summit this month "if he wishes." In a press conference in Cairo, Aboul Gheit stated, "Syria, starting tonight, is a full member of the Arab League, and from tomorrow, they have the right to occupy any seat they participate in." He added, "When an invitation is extended by the host country, Saudi Arabia, and if Bashar al-Assad wishes to participate, he will."
Following the meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, the decision number 8914 regarding Syria was issued, announcing the resumption of Syrian delegations' participation in meetings of the League Council and all its affiliated organs starting today, Sunday.
The text of the decision stated: "The Arab League Council, at the ministerial level, chaired by the Arab Republic of Egypt, in its extraordinary session held on Sunday, May 7, 2023, after reviewing:
▪ The memorandum of the permanent delegation of the Arab Republic of Egypt number 1335 dated May 3, 2023,
▪ The memorandum of the General Secretariat of the Arab League number 484/5 dated May 3, 2023,
And based on the member states' commitment to the security and stability of the Syrian Arab Republic, its Arab identity, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and regional safety, and contributing to finding a way out of the Syrian crisis to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Syrian people and achieve its legitimate aspirations for a future, and to put an end to the prolonged crisis that the country is experiencing, and to the foreign interventions in its affairs, and to address its accumulated and increasing effects of terrorism, displacement, and refugee issues, among others.
Based on previous Arab League decisions concerning the developments in the Syrian situation, most recently decision number 8863 dated March 8, 2023, issued by the regular session of the 159th Arab League Council at the ministerial level.
In light of the input from the heads of delegations, it is decided:
- Renewing the commitment to maintaining Syria's sovereignty, territorial integrity, stability, and regional safety, based on the Arab League Charter and its principles, and confirming the importance of continuing and intensifying Arab efforts aimed at helping Syria overcome its crisis, stemming from the desire to end the suffering of the brotherly Syrian people which has persisted over the past years, and in accordance with the common Arab interest and the fraternal relations that bind all Arab peoples, including the Syrian people and its historical contribution to Arab civilization and culture.
- Welcoming the Arab statements issued from the Jeddah meeting about Syria on April 14, 2023, and the Amman meeting about Syria on May 1, 2023, and seeking to launch a leading Arab role in efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis addressing all humanitarian, security, and political repercussions on Syria and its people and addressing the fallout of this crisis on neighboring countries, the region, and the world, especially the burden of refugees, the threat of terrorism, and drug smuggling.
- Confirming the necessity of taking practical and effective steps towards resolving the crisis, according to the step-for-step principle, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, starting with continuing steps that allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need in Syria, including through the mechanisms established in relevant Security Council resolutions.
- Forming a ministerial contact committee consisting of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, and the Secretary-General to monitor the implementation of the Amman statement and continue direct dialogue with the Syrian government to reach a comprehensive solution to the Syrian crisis addressing all its repercussions according to the step-for-step methodology, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, and the committee shall provide periodic reports to the Arab League Council at the ministerial level.
- Resuming the participation of the Syrian Arab Republic government delegations in meetings of the Arab League Council and all its affiliated organizations and bodies starting from May 7, 2023.
- Requesting the Secretary-General to follow up on the implementation of what is stated in this decision and to keep the Council updated on developments."
Positions and Consultative Meetings to Discuss the Return
Arab League spokesperson Jamal Rushdi stated yesterday that "the foreign ministers will make a decision regarding lifting the suspension of Damascus's membership," pointing out that "the meeting will discuss the results of the mini Arab foreign ministers' meetings that took place in Saudi Arabia and Jordan for Syria's return and inviting it to the next Arab summit in Riyadh," according to the Arab News Agency.
He noted that "there will be no voting on this return issue, as decisions in the League are made by consensus."
Foreign ministers from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, and Syria held a consultative meeting last week to discuss ways to return Syrian refugees from neighboring countries, solidify Syrian authorities' control over all territories, and resolve the issue of drug smuggling.
This followed another meeting held in mid-April between foreign ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council countries in Saudi Arabia, which also included Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, to discuss Syria's return to the league. They agreed on the importance of having a leading Arab role in efforts aimed at ending the Syrian crisis.
On Sunday, the consultative meeting of Arab foreign ministers was held in Cairo, chaired by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, in preparation for an emergency session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level.
Media reports had previously indicated that Arab foreign ministers would meet today in Cairo to discuss the resumption of Syrian delegations' participation in Arab League meetings.
An Arab League spokesperson expected that "Arab foreign ministers would approve Syria's return to the League in their meeting today, Sunday."
Jordan: Positive Signals
Jordan's permanent representative to the Arab League, Ambassador Amjad Al-Adaileh, pointed out that there are "positive signals suggesting expected consensus on a draft resolution for Syria's return to the Arab League," anticipating that "Arab foreign ministers will agree in their meeting today on a decision to resume the participation of the Syrian government delegations in the meetings of the League Council," indicating that "he sensed Arab consensus on the importance of launching a leading Arab role to resolve this crisis."
This comes after Al-Adaileh provided the League Council with updates on the consultative meeting in Amman concerning Syria, indicating that "Jordan has a significant role in discussing the Syrian crisis and has been a pioneer in launching a leading Arab role aimed at resolving this crisis," discussing the matter during the Amman meeting.
Al-Adaileh stated, "Things are moving positively, and the ministers will approve the draft resolution today unless there are any notable observations," clarifying that "the process will be consensual and not in the form of voting."
The next Arab summit is scheduled to be held in Riyadh on May 19.
