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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Doha - Asharq Al-Awsat

Gulf-Arab Meeting to Focus on Syria’s Return to Arab League

Syrians walk in Damascus' al-Hamidiyah souk on the second day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on June 7, 2016. (AFP)

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, reported AFP.

Qatar foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani will take part in the meeting, which will also be attended by members of the GCC, as well as Iraq, Jordan and Egypt.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince 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.

Saudi Arabia and Syria are holding talks about resuming consular services after these ten years. Riyadh shut its embassy in Damascus shortly after the regime brutally started to crack down on peaceful protesters.

The Arab League also suspended Syria’s membership over the crackdown.

More and more discussions are being held among Arab countries about Syria’s return.

Restoring its membership requires consensus, which has not been reached yet. Three Arab countries have not yet expressed their position on its return and the issue will be discussed on Friday.

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