32nd Arab League Summit kicks off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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In the coastal city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Arab League's annual summit begins late on Friday afternoon, with the participation of 22 member states, including Syria.
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The Arab League summit convened in Saudi Arabia on May 19, 2023
On May 19, the 32nd Arab League summit kicked off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 22 member states, five observer countries, and their respective heads of state and government are attending the pan-Arab summit.
Throughout the afternoon, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greeted dignitaries at the commencement of the Arab League Summit in Jeddah.
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad was among the first to arrive for the meetings, and he was greeted by the Saudi Crown Prince before shaking hands and posing for a photo.
This summit marks the return to the Arab League of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad after his country emerged victorious against the international war against it.
One of the most scintillating moments at the summit: Al-Assad was given a warm welcome at the Arab summit.
SANA reported on Friday that Al-Assad chatted and shook hands with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani before entering the summit hall.
Algeria: End systematic attacks against Palestinians
The 32nd Arab League summit kicked off on Friday with Algerian Prime Minister Ayman Benabderrahmane delivering the opening remarks whereby he hailed Syria's return to the summit.
He also touched on the latest Israeli aggression on Gaza, stressing that the international community must put an end to the systematic attacks against Palestinians and the Israeli policy of settlement expansion.
Benabderrahmane highlighted the détente of Arab relations with Turkey and Iran and the indications of the emergence of a new multipolar world in place of unipolarity.
He concluded by stressing that the role of the Arab League should be revived and its reform process should be accelerated.
After delivering the opening remarks, Benabderrahmane handed over the rotating presidency of the Arab League to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
When MBS received the presidency of the League, he simultaneously welcomed Syria’s return to the Arab League and expressed hope that its return paves the way to end the crisis in the war-torn country.
Saudi Crown Prince opens Arab League Summit
On his part, Saudi Crown Prince opened the Arab League summit by welcoming the Syrian President, hoping that Syria’s return to the Arab League will mark an end to its crisis and achieve stability.
#Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman: We are glad to have Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad present among us in the Arab League Summit.#ArabLeagueSummit #BasharalAssad https://t.co/COdmL8q33R
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 19, 2023
He added, “The Palestinian cause was and still is the Arab central cause."
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman: The #Palestinian Cause was and will remain the #Arabs' central cause.#ArabLeagueSummit #Palestine https://t.co/JIluklxZbT
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 19, 2023
On the situation in Sudan, the Saudi Crown prince hoped that dialogue can prevail over discord between the rival parties.
Aboul Gheit: Jeddah Summit an opportunity to restore Arab issues
On his part, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, welcomed the Chinese-brokered agreement on restoring ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmad Aboul Gheit: I welcome the agreement between #SaudiArabia and #Iran.#ArabLeagueSummit https://t.co/3gAIDnWnT7
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 19, 2023
Aboul Gheit considered that the Jeddah summit is an opportunity to restore Arab issues that were left to others a long time ago.
Jordanian King welcomes Syria's return
Jordan's King Abdullah II stressed that "the Palestinian cause remains the center of our attention," underlining that peace cannot be achieved with the continued construction and expansion of illegal Israeli settlements.
#Jordan's King Abdullah II: "We have repeatedly warned of allowing the #Syrian crisis to remain unresolved, we welcome #Syria back into the Arab League as first step to resolving the crisis."#ArabLeagueSummit https://t.co/Wb7psAJhcZ
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 19, 2023
The Jordanian King warned against the prolongation of the Syrian crisis without reaching a solution, welcoming Syria's return to the Arab League as a first step toward resolving the country's crisis.
El-Sisi calls for a solution to the Sudanese crisis
On his part, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stressed the necessity of relying on Arab capabilities to resolve major issues.
El-Sisi affirmed that Egypt is continuing its efforts to stabilize the ceasefire in Gaza.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi: #Egypt continues efforts to sustain calm in #Gaza.#ArabLeagueSummit https://t.co/0mxbitIlDW
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 19, 2023
He also warned that the continuation of the crisis in Sudan will have a negative impact on the region.
The Egyptian President indicated that Syria's return to the Arab League is a step to activate the latter's role.
On his part, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani welcomed Arab efforts to crystallize an Arab regional system.
The African Union's representative to the Arab Summit stressed that a possible solution in Sudan will not be military, warning that the outbreak of violence in Sudan threatens the entire region with fragmentation.
The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha, said he looked forward to intensifying cooperation between the Organization and the Arab League in many fields.
The President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas affirmed the continuation of the struggle in the face of Israeli oppression and aggression, as well as diplomatic efforts in all forums.
Mauritanian President Mohammad Ould Ghazouani stressed the need to enhance inter-trade exchange in preparation for the establishment of the common Arab market.
Tunisia: ‘We are advocates of freedom’
In his speech during the Arab summit, Tunisian President Kais Saied said our brethren in Palestine still offer daily martyrs in the course of liberation from the Zionist occupation in light of an eerie silence.
He insisted on Arab states not falling once again prey to a new world order, which they will never be part of establishing.
Saied pointed out that “collective capabilities enable us to achieve what we want," stressing, “We are advocates of freedom and peace for the entire nation."
“We refuse to have our country in an alliance against another,” he further stressed.
The Tunisian President welcomed the return of Syria to the Arab League after the end of the conspiracy that aimed at fragmenting the nation.
Meanwhile, Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh urged the international community to provide protection to the Palestinian people.
#Djibouti President, Ismail Omar: "We demand the international community to provide protection for the #Palestinian people."#ArabLeagueSummit https://t.co/e578pYbkhv
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 19, 2023
On his account, Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud also welcomed the return of Syria to the League of Arab States, calling for an end to the violence in Sudan.
Kuwait affirms stance on preserving Syria's unity, sovereignty
Kuwaiti Crown Prince Mishal Al-Ahmad affirmed his country's position, calling for preserving Syria's unity and sovereignty.
He also asserted Kuwait's firm stance in support of the rights of the Palestinian people, calling on the international community to work to reach a comprehensive and just solution to the Palestinian cause.
Al-Sudani calls for holding 2025 Arab Summit in Baghdad
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia Al-Sudani also welcomed Syria's return to its normal place in the Arab League, stressing the importance of joint Arab action to contain disagreements.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia Al-Sudani: "I welcome the return of #Syria to its normal place, and we stress the importance of joint Arab efforts to contain the disagreements. We also hope that the efforts to end the fighting in #Sudan and achieve stability in #Libya, #Yemen,… https://t.co/yTQXBLjLMh
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 19, 2023
Al-Sudani hoped for the success of the efforts to stop the fighting in Sudan and stabilize the situation in Libya, Yemen, and Lebanon.
He also welcomed the agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, noting that Iraq supported this step and pushed for it to serve prosperity in the region.
The Iraqi President announced that Iraq will host the 2023 Baghdad Conference for economic integration and regional stability, as well as the Development Road Conference, with the aim of strengthening ties.
Al-Sudani called for the 2025 Arab summit to be held in Baghdad, "The Land of Peace."
Mikati: Displacement crisis greater than Lebanon's ability to bear
On his part, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati valued Syria's return to the Arab summit, adding, "Allow me to name this summit, the summit of Healing Wounds."
During his speech, Mikati pointed out that the protracted crisis in Lebanon and the increasing number of displaced people make the displacement crisis greater than Lebanon's capacity to bear.
#Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati: We value #Syria's return to the Arab summit.#ArabLeagueSummit https://t.co/NxgFT1bKas
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 19, 2023
The Lebanese PM added that the return of the displaced to their country cannot be achieved if Arab efforts are not combined in cooperation with the international community.
Oman: Success of summit achieved through reunification of Arab nation
The head of the Omani delegation, Asaad bin Tariq, confirmed that the success of this summit was achieved through the reunion of the Arab nation, welcoming the resumption of Syria's activity in this summit.
Bin Tariq added that the Sultanate of Oman believes that the international community's inability to find a settlement for the suffering of the Palestinian people is the source of tensions in the region and the world.
Libya: We commend Saudi Arabia's efforts in Arab reunification
During the summit, the President of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohammad Al-Menfi, said his country is seeking to complete the elections in Libya during the current year.
"We commend Saudi Arabia's efforts in Arab reunification, which led to the convening of this summit with all its members," Al-Menfi said.
Zelensky attends Arab Summit, blames some Arab countries
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also attended the summit, while Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman expressed his readiness to mediate in the war.
"We reaffirm the kingdom's readiness to continue mediating efforts between Russia and Ukraine, and to support all international efforts aimed at resolving the crisis politically in a way that contributes to achieving security," MBS had said in his opening speech.
In his English address, Zelensky seemed to be blaming some Arab nations for refusing to join the Western-led campaign against Russia.
"Unfortunately, there are some in the world and here among you who turn a blind eye to those [prisoner of war] cages and illegal annexations," the Ukrainian President said, in reference to the accession of new regions to the Russian Federation as a result of referenda.
"I'm here so that everyone can take an honest look, no matter how hard the Russians try to influence, there must still be independence," he added.
During Zelensky's speech at the summit, the Syrian delegation, headed by President Bashar Al-Assad, refrained from using translation headphones.
