Chairman hints at Syria's probable Arab League return

CAIRO (AA) – Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul-Ghait said that restoring Syria's membership was subject to approval by the majority of member states.

Syria's membership in the Cairo-based league has been suspended since 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime launched a harsh crackdown on pro-democracy protests, sparking eight years of civil war.

Unfreezing Syria's membership "is subject to an Arab agreement, not voting,” Abul-Gheit said in televised statements late Tuesday.

“By saying agreement does not mean unanimity, but it means that there would be a majority of votes,” he said.

Pointing out that some members were opposing the return of Syria as an Arab League member, Abul-Ghait ruled out a breakthrough in the Syrian crisis soon due to the Iranian presence in the region.

Commenting on Washington's decision to withdraw its forces from Syria, the secretary general said: "There are a lot of contradictions in the American performance."

Abul-Ghait pointed out that U.S. President Donald Trump said that he would leave Syria "tomorrow" but U.S. institutions prevent him from taking a swift move.

Notably, Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki said recently that the Arab League has no plans to discuss inviting Syria to the annual Arab summit in Tunisia in March.