Irked by Syria's return to Arab League, Borrell postpones meeting
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The Arab-European ministerial meeting is postponed in clear opposition to a sovereign decision made by the Arab League welcoming Syria's return.
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European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell speaks during a media conference after a meeting 'Supporting the future of Syria and the region' at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, June 15, 2023. (AP)
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, announced that the Arab-European ministerial meeting, which was scheduled to be held this week, has been postponed due to Syria's resumption of its activities in the Arab League.
Borrell stressed in a joint press conference he held with the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, that "the position of the European Union will not change unless Damascus achieves progress in implementing United Nations resolutions, especially Security Council Resolution 2554," and for this reason, the European Union and the Arab League decided to postpone the meeting at the request of European Union.
Borrell wrote, "The re-admission of Syria in the League of Arab States is a sovereign decision, and we respect it fully," then claimed "But we also see that this was done in a situation when Syrian regime did not make any meaningful efforts towards solving the conflict."
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Borrell reminded that the last ministerial meeting between the EU and the Arab League was held in February 2019 in Brussels.
On his part, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry considered that canceling a meeting between the European Union and the Arab League, given Syria's resumption of its seat in the League of Arab States, is an unfortunate decision.
During a press conference with Borrell, Shoukry indicated that the decision to readmit Syria to the Arab League was taken by the bloc.
The top Egyptian diplomat indicated that the Arab League's decision had to be appreciated by the European Union, adding that canceling its meeting with the Arab League, which had not been held for four years, was an unfortunate decision.
Shoukry confirmed that the decision to readmit Syria to the Arab League was issued to support the Syrian people, stressing that "we must look forward to restoring stability to Syria."
This comes at a time when the European Union chose to exclude Syria from the conference held in Brussels and devoted primarily to Syria, and the reason is to hide the truth behind its bankrupt goals and policies as a result of the inhumane and immoral coercive measures that the Syrian people face, according to a source at the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry.
The source stressed that the meeting's organizers invited only their corrupt tools who are allied with Daesh, Jabhat Al-Nusra, and other terrorist organizations that oppose the will of the Syrian people and their vital interests, demanding that refugees not be allowed to return to their homeland and humanitarian aid not be provided to victims of terrorism and the earthquake.
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According to the source, Syria was successful in resisting the terrorist war's objectives and attempts to interfere in its domestic affairs.
Syria admits that attempts to undermine its stances have failed both militarily and politically, according to the source. "Syria, which has withstood mercenaries and terrorists," the source continued, "is determined today to work with its Arab brothers, friends, and all good forces in the world to consolidate its victories and overcome the consequences of the economic blockade on it."
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said in his speech at the Brussels conference, "Here we are, again, in Brussels, for the seventh year, discussing the needs and pledging further support to the Syrian people," adding that "We are the biggest donor for the Syrian people. And this Conference shows that even in the 13th year of conflict, we continue standing with the Syrian people, whatever else is going [on] in our neighborhood – be it in the east or in the south."
