Abul Gheit: No Arab Consensus on Syria's Return to Arab League

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Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit said Friday that the League's member states have not yet reached a consensus on Syria's return to the 22-member bloc.

"When there is an Arab consensus, and when we are sure there is no objection from one side or the other, it will be as simple as putting it on the agenda of a meeting" of Arab foreign ministers, he said at a Beirut joint press conference with caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil.

The press conference was held as part of the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit that Beirut is hosting.

Bassil earlier on Friday called for the Arab League to readmit Syria, more than seven years after it suspended Damascus' membership.

The issue of whether or not to invite Syria to the summit and Lebanese calls for reinstating its Arab League membership has stirred controversy in Lebanon.

The issue of Libya's participation has also led to protests on the ground that involved the removal of Libya's flag from a pole near the summit's venue at the hands of AMAL Movement supporters.

The Arab League suspended Syria in November 2011, as the death toll rose in the regime's brutal repression of anti-government protests.

But in recent years, President Bashar al-Assad's forces have gained the military upper hand against rebels and jihadists, and efforts to bring his government back into the Arab fold appear underway.

Syria's war has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions since it started with anti-government protests.

Comments 1
Thumb roflmfao 5 years

Bassil to Abul Gheit.. dude.. look over there.. do you see that chick.. that's Caroline.. lovely eh.. I can get you her number.. if you help me become president... Then the Lebanese caretaker foreign minister.. stood up.. and gave a heartfelt speech.. raising the issue of women's right..