Algerian FM: Syria is a founding Arab League member

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Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra confirmed Saturday that Syria is a founding member of the Arab League and Algeria has no problem in Syria retrieving its seat.

Lamamra indicated that Algeria seeks to test the waters of the Arab countries during the next Arab League meeting in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, hoping to reach an understanding on Syria.

The Algerian Minister stressed that his country will do its utmost to unite and strengthen the common Arab will in order to overcome collective challenges.

Regarding the Palestinian cause, Lamamra expressed that Palestine is in the heart of Algeria in all cases.

Earlier, the military advisor to the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Mahmoud Khalifa, indicated that "the return of Syria (to the Arab League) will be very close." 

On his part, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmad Aboul Gheit, had said that Syria may return to the Arab League during the next summit in the event of an Arab consensus on the draft resolution.

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad affirmed that the decision to freeze Syria's seat in the Arab League did not come as a result of an Arab consensus, indicating that there were circumstances that led some to expel Syria from the League.

It is noteworthy that the 22-nation Arab League suspended Syria’s membership in 2011 after the war broke out in the country. Several member states then recalled their ambassadors from Syria. Years later, some of them have begun taking steps to reengage Damascus and reopen embassies.