Syria readmitted to Arab League with immediate effect: Reports

The Arab League has reportedly granted Syria a conditional return to the 22-member body with immediate effect.

The decision was made by Arab foreign ministers during a closed-door meeting in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Sunday, media reports said.

An Egyptian diplomat told the Abu Dhabi-based The National newspaper that the return was “conditional,” adding that Syria’s full membership of the Arab League was dependent on the return of Syrian refugees without retributions and a credible political process in the country.

Earlier, the Lebanese foreign minister attached great importance to Syria’s return to the Arab League, saying his country supports the process.

Abdullah Bou Habib made the remarks before leaving Beirut for Cairo to attend the meeting of top Arab diplomats, Lebanon's online newspaper el-Nashra reported on Sunday.

Bou Habib also said that Lebanon has submitted proposals to the Arab League regarding Syria’s return to the Arab fold.

Arab League envoys back Syria’s readmission

Saudi media reported that permanent representatives at the Arab League Council supported Syria’s return to the pan-Arab body during a meeting on Saturday.

Citing an unnamed diplomatic source, the Saudi daily Okaz said Saturday’s meeting saw overwhelming support for resumption of Syria’s participation in the Arab League meetings. 

“The decision on Syria’s return to its vacant seat in the Arab League lies in the hands of Arab foreign ministers. It will be decided in two extraordinary sessions in Cairo on Sunday,” the source was quoted as saying.

The al-Arabiya TV channel also raised the possibility of Syria’s readmission to the bloc.

On Friday, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told CNN that there are enough votes among Arab League members for Syria to return to the organization.

The Arab world, he added, is now taking the lead on resolving the Syria crisis, as “there was no effective effort” so far to do so.

"The return to the league will happen. Symbolically it will be important but ... that is only a very humble beginning of what will be a very long and difficult and challenging process, given the complexity of the crisis after 12 years of conflict," Safadi noted.

MG