Syria’s Readmitted to Arab League as Relations with Assad Normalize

Syria has been readmitted to the Arab League after being suspended for over a decade due to a government crackdown on anti-Assad protesters that led to war. This move comes as President Bashar al-Assad seeks to normalize relationships with other Arab nations.

About Arab League

• The Arab League is a regional organization of Arab countries in and around North Africa and Western Asia, formed in Cairo, Egypt, in March 1945.
• The league’s headquarters is in Cairo, Egypt
• Its current Secretary-General is Ahmed Aboul Gheit of Egypt.
• Its purpose is to promote political cooperation among its member countries and to protect their economic and political interests.
• The league has 22 members, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, among others.
• It operates through various committees and sub-committees, and its activities include coordination on economic, cultural, and security matters, as well as resolving regional conflicts and supporting the Palestinian cause.
• Some of the key issues addressed by the Arab League include the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Syrian civil war, and the ongoing crisis in Yemen.

Why Syria was suspended?

• Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011.
• The suspension came as a result of Syria’s crackdown on anti-government protesters, which led to a civil war in the country.
• The Arab League was concerned about Syria’s human rights violations, including the use of force against peaceful demonstrators.
• The suspension also aimed to pressure the Syrian government to end the violence and initiate political reforms.
• During the suspension period, Syria was excluded from participating in Arab League meetings, and the League imposed economic sanctions on Syria.

Syria’s Restatement into the Arab League

• Foreign ministers from the 22-nation group voted for Syria’s return to the Arab League at a meeting in Cairo.
• The upcoming Arab League summit is scheduled in Saudi Arabia on May 19.
• The league urged resolving the crisis caused by the Syrian civil war, including refugee flight to neighboring countries and drug smuggling across the region.
• While some Arab states have welcomed the decision, others have not.
• The UAE’s diplomatic adviser, Anwar Gargash, tweeted that Syria’s readmission was a positive step for regional prosperity and stability.
• Some other Arab nations want Syria to meet certain conditions before being allowed to return to the Arab League.
• Qatar previously opposed Syria’s return but stated that it would support the Arab consensus and not hinder Syria’s reinstatement.
• Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit clarified that each country has the authority to decide whether to normalize relations with Syria.
• Syria could attend Arab League meetings as a full member.

About Syria

• Syria is a country located in the Middle East, bordered by Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and Lebanon.
• The capital of Syria is Damascus, which is also the country’s largest city.
• The official language of Syria is Arabic.
• Syria has a population of approximately 18 million people.
• The currency used in Syria is the Syrian pound.
• The majority of Syrians practice Islam, with the two main branches being Sunni and Shia.
• Syria has a rich cultural history and is home to numerous ancient sites and landmarks, including the ancient city of Palmyra and the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.
• Syria has been embroiled in a civil war since 2011, resulting in the displacement of millions of people and significant damage to the country’s infrastructure.
• Syria is a member of the United Nations, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
• Syria’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, oil, and natural gas.
• The current President of Syria is Bashar al-Assad, who has been in power since 2000.

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