Saudi Foreign Minister Says Syria Can Return To The Arab League, But Not Yet

Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Saudi Arabia's foreign minister on Tuesday said engagement with Syria could pave the way for the country's return to the Arab League, as relations melt after more than a decade of isolation, but it is currently too early to discuss the move.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud reiterated that consensus is being built in the Arab world, that isolating Syria will not succeed and dialogue with Damascus is needed, especially to address the humanitarian situation there.

"An approach to address these issues is needed. And it may eventually bring Syria back to the Arab League and so on. But for now, I think it's too early to discuss this," he told reporters in London.

Syria is isolated from the Arab world, after President Bashar al-Assad's deadly crackdown on protests that erupted against his government in 2011.

The Arab League suspended Syria membership in 2011, followed by many Arab countries withdrawing their ambassador from Damascus.

However, President Assad has benefited from the outpouring of support from Arab countries after a devastating earthquake on February 6 that killed thousands of Syrians.

Algeria hosted its first Arab League Summit since the COVID-19 pandemic in November, although Damascus was not present after Algeria failed to persuade other Arab countries to end Syria's suspension.

Saudi Arabia will host this year's Arab League Summit. When asked if Syria would be accepted, Prince Faisal said: "I think it's too early to talk about it."

"But I can say that... there is a consensus built in the Arab world, that the status quo cannot be maintained. And that means we have to find a way to go beyond that quo status," he said.