Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan to submit proposal for Syria’s return to Arab League

A tripartite proposal prepared by Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan will be presented at a meeting of permanent representatives of the Arab League’s member countries to discuss ways to allow Syria to return to the Arab League, Lebanese sources said.

The proposal, which will be put forward tomorrow, enjoys Egypt’s support.

According to the sources, Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil aims to turn the economic summit which is to be held in Beirut in to “a summit of reconciliation with Damascus”.

READ: Lebanon to invite Syria’s Al-Assad to Arab League meeting

Earlier, Bassil said that Lebanon will not invite Syria to the meeting, in adherence with the Arab League decision, but Lebanon can initiate and work for Syria’s return to the League.

On Monday, Lebanese President Michel Aoun received minister Al-Azhar Al-Qarawi Al-Shabi, the personal representative of the Tunisian president who handed him an official invitation to participate in the Arab Summit scheduled for 31 March.

According to media reports, Beirut has recently made intensive contacts to push for Syrian regime President Bashar Al-Assad to be invited to the planned economic summit.

Lebanon in cooperation with Egypt is reported to have made contacts with Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Palestine, Jordan and Tunisia.

Last month Algeria called for Al-Assad to be invited to attend the Arab League summit scheduled to take place in March. While the UAE announced last week the reopening of its embassy in Damascus, followed by Bahrain which said the Syrian Embassy in Manama is operating as usual.

Syria was suspended from the Arab League over its failure to end the bloodshed caused by brutal government crackdowns on pro-democracy protests.

OPINION: The Syria regime’s return to the Arab League is a mistake