Gulf-Arab meeting to discuss restoring Syria’s membership
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has called for a meeting to discuss the possibility of restoring Syria’s membership in the Arab League.
The meeting will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday, according to reports.
Foreign ministers of the six Gulf States including Qatar in addition to those of Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq.
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah had spoken in March of the possibility of developing talks with Syria and its potential return to the Arab League.
“More talks with the Syrian regime may pave the way for its return to the Arab League after a ten-year isolation,” he remarked.
Recently, Damascus has witnessed an Arabic openness, especially after the disaster of the Feb. 6 earthquake, which killed thousands and wounded many more, in light of intense talk about ending Syria’s membership suspension in the league.
Syria was expelled from the Arab League in 2011 over the government’s brutal crackdown against protestors.
In March, Reuters reported that Riyadh and Damascus had reached an agreement to re-open their respective embassies after the holy month of Ramadan. The Saudi foreign ministry only confirmed that talks were being held to resume consular services.
Restoring Syria’s membership to the Arab League requires consensus, which has not been reached yet. Three Arab countries have not yet expressed their position on its return.