The 22 countries of the Arab League have been meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, since this Friday to discuss the major issues of the region… and of the world. With a ghost and a surprise guest.
If 23 leaders were present this Friday in Jeddah, it was above all two faces that marked the summit of the Arab League. On the one hand, that of Bashar el-Assad. The Syrian president arrived all smiles, warmly welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reports our special envoy, Guilhem Delteil.
His return was expected. After twelve years of suspension due to the repression of the protest movement against the regime, Syria was officially reinstated in the organization two weeks ago. And Bashar al-Assad wants to see there the possible beginning of a ” new phase in joint Arab action for solidarity, peace in the region “.
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At the end of the summit, the Syrian President met with the Crown Prince and leader de facto of the kingdom, Mohammed ben Salman, welcoming the resumption of relations between the two countries after eleven years of rupture, according to the official Syrian news agency SANA. Earlier in the day, he had met the Tunisian President, Kais Saied, as well as the Emirati Vice-President, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, whose country has been very active in reintegrating Damascus into the Arab League.
The statement issued at the end of the summit stressed the “need to take effective and efficient measures to reach a settlement” of the conflict in Syria. The Arab Heads of State also agreed to ” strengthen their cooperation “on questions” related to refugees, terrorism and drug trafficking “, according to the text. The war in Syria, where the fighting has almost ceased, has left around half a million dead, as well as millions of refugees and displaced persons.
” Some of you close your eyes »
Another face that marked this summit, that of Volodymyr Zelensky. Invited by Saudi Arabia, the Ukrainian president called on the leaders of the region to ” take an honest look about the war in his country. ” Unfortunately, some countries in the world and here among you turn a blind eye to these illegal prisons and annexations. “, did he declare. A faithful ally of Moscow, Syria is one of the five countries to have voted against the resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations asking Russia to cease hostilities in Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media that he also spoke with the Saudi Crown Prince to talk about the ” main points of the Ukrainian peace formula “. He also spoke of other bilateral meetings with the leaders of a region much less united in its support for Ukraine than its European and American allies.
The participation of the Ukrainian president was unexpected, announced only in the morning. Surprising too, because in general, the Arab countries have maintained a cautious attitude on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, being careful not to offend Moscow. But for Saudi Arabia, this invitation was a way to smooth things over. His reconciliation with Bashar al-Assad’s Syria has earned him criticism. By welcoming Volodymyr Zelensky, she shows that she wants to grasp the various crises of the world. His crown prince has also offered to mediate between kyiv and Moscow.
(And with AFP)