Aboul Gheit: League must find way for Syria to reengage in Arab world

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The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, called, on Tuesday, for a settlement of the "crisis in Syria, closing the page of the past, with its pain, and seeking a new situation" that would allow Damascus to return to its involvement in the League.

This came in his speech during the 21st Arab Summit, which started in Algeria on Tuesday evening and will last for two days.

Aboul Gheit explained that developments in Syria "still require a pioneering Arab effort and an initiative that puts the Arab footprint on the map in terms of settling the crisis in this important Arab country."

It is noteworthy that the Arab League suspended Syria's membership in November 2011.

Aboul Gheit pointed out that the matter "requires flexibility from all concerned parties so that the darkness of economic collapse and political blockade can be dispelled," adding that "the page of the past is closed alongside the pain it carries."

He also stated that it is necessary to "strive towards a new situation that allows Syria to engage with its natural Arab environment and the Arab League, which it helped establish."

Ending the freezing of Syria's membership in the League was at the top of the pre-summit discussions until Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra announced last September that Damascus preferred not to bring up the issue at the summit, in order to unite Arab ranks in the face of challenges.

Aboul Gheit also discussed other Arab challenges, including the situation in Libya and Yemen, as well as the Palestinian cause.

The Secretary-General of the Arab League also stressed that the current Arab summit is a necessity, and saw it as an opportunity to "discuss its Arab issues and positions in a world whose crises continue in terrible succession."

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