Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in his speech at the Arab League summit covered various topics reaffirming Syria's Arab belonging and the Arab League's anticipated role as an outlet for its members in the face of seige.

Al-Assad's speech read:

"His Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Your Majesties, Sovereigns and Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen... Where does one begin his speech when the dangers are no longer just imminent but have rather actualized?

One cannot but start with hope that motivates both achievement and action, and when ailments accumulate, the doctor can treat them individually, provided that he treats the underlying disease causing the ailment and not just the symptoms.

As such, we must turn our attention toward the primary topics that threaten our future and produce our crises in order to not drown in them and consequently result in the drowning of future generations as we deal with symptoms rather than causes.

When it comes to threats, there are risks and there are opportunities. Today, we are before an opportunity as the world order changes to become of a multipolar nature following the West's dominance of the concurrent world order devoid of any principles, morals, friendships, and partnerships.

It is a historic opportunity to rearrange our [Arab] affairs with minimum foreign interference, which requires repositioning ourselves in this emerging world so that we can become active members of its order. This requires investing in the positive atmosphere arising from the reconciliations that preceded the summit.

#Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad: "We must consider the great issues that lie behind our crises, and this is a historic opportunity for us to arrange our affairs without foreign interference."#ArabLeagueSummit #Syria https://t.co/Otg6j89IFk

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 19, 2023

It is an opportunity for us to consolidate our culture in the face of the upcoming neo-liberalism that sought to target and dissolve the innate nature of humans and strip them of their morals and identity. It is also an opportunity for us to define our Arab identity through its civilizational dimension, which has been falsely accused [by the West] of ethnic discrimination and chauvinism.

Its aim has been to establish a state of continued conflict among the natural national, ethnic, and religious components, which would result in the disintegration of our societies as they struggle against each other and not against other nations.

The topics are too broad to be discussed in a few words, even summits might not be sufficient.

These topics do not begin with the atrocities committed by the Zionist entity, which has been outcast on the Arab level, against the resisting Palestinian people, nor do they end with the expansionist Ottoman ideology injected with a twisted version of the [Muslim] Brotherhood.

These topics are also inseparable from the challenge of development as a top priority of our developing societies.

That's where the role of the Arab League comes in as it becomes a natural platform for discussing various issues and dealing with them, provided that its framework is developed by revising its charter and bylaw and upgrading its working mechanisms to keep pace with modern times.

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Joint Arab action needs common visions, strategies, and goals that can be later turned into implementation plans. It also requires a unified policy, firm principles, clear mechanisms, and constraints. Only then will we be able to move away from impulsive reactions and embark on anticipating upcoming events.

#Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad: "Joint #Arab efforts are in need of a common outlook to empower the Arab role in resolving crises."#ArabLeagueSummit #Syria https://t.co/HgCVESET32

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 19, 2023

In doing so, the Arab League will become an outlet in the face of foreign siege rather than a partner in it. It will also become a refuge from aggression rather than its propagator.

As for daily concerning issues that extend from Libya to Syria going through Yemen, Sudan, and other major issues in various regions, we cannot treat diseases by treating the symptoms given that these issues are a result of more complex topics that have not been treated before.

In order to discuss some of the conflicts, it is necessary to address the cracks that were formed in the Arab arena over the past decade and restore the Arab League’s role as a healer of wounds rather than an injurer.

Most significantly, it is crucial to allow the peoples to handle their internal issues, for they are able to manage their own affairs. Our [Arab League] role is to prevent foreign interference in their countries and help them exclusively upon request.

As for Syria, its past, present, and future is Arabism, but it is the Arabism of belonging, not the Arabism of dependence. Dependence is ever-changing, but belonging is permanent and remains unchanged. A person may shift their dependee for some reason, but they do not change their belonging. As for those who do alter their belonging, it means that they have always been devoid of it. 
 
And whoever stands at the heart of belonging can never grow dependent, knowing that Syria is the beating heart of Arab identity and lies at the core of Arabism.

#Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad: "#Syria is the beating heart of #Arab identity, and lies at the core of Arabism."#ArabLeagueSummit https://t.co/XMOkdVup9N

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 19, 2023

While we are holding this summit at a time of great global instability, hope rises in light of the inter-Arab, regional, and international rapprochement, which culminated in this summit. I hope that this summit will mark the beginning of a new phase of Arab action in solidarity among us for maintaining peace, development, and prosperity in our region instead of war and destruction.

In compliance with the five minutes allotted for speeches, I extend my deep thanks to the heads of delegations who expressed their deep-rooted affection toward Syria, and I reciprocate the same feelings toward them. I also thank the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for the great role he played and the intensive efforts he made to promote reconciliation in our region and for the success of this summit. I wish him, His Highness the Crown Prince, and the brotherly Saudi people continued progress and prosperity.

#Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad: "I thank the head of delegations that expressed the depth of their sentiments toward #Syria."#ArabLeagueSummit https://t.co/ChH6vUsTdx

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 19, 2023

May God’s peace and mercy be upon you."

Al-Assad's speech was part of the 32nd Arab League summit kicked off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia today. 22 member states, five observer countries, and their respective heads of state and government are attending the pan-Arab summit.

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.

Read more: 32nd Arab League Summit kicks off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia