The Arab League has called for practical and immediate steps to solve the Syrian crisis and safeguard unity and sovereignty in the country, in the final communique of its summit in Jeddah on Friday.
Practical steps must “meet the aspiration of its people and rid the country of terrorism” as well as create suitable conditions for the “natural and safe number of refugees”, said the Jeddah Declaration issued at the end of the summit on Friday.
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad was given a warm welcome at the Arab League summit on Friday by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who embraced the once-shunned leader.
Arab leaders had ostracised Mr Al Assad's government after a crackdown on protesters in 2011 led to a civil war that has resulted in the deaths of more than half a million people and the displacement of millions of Syrians.
Sheikh Tamim, the Emir of Qatar, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi also shook hands with Mr Al Assad.
During an address to fellow leaders, Mr Al Assad voiced hope for a new era of Arab co-operation, as his country was welcomed back to the Arab League after 12 years of suspension.
“I hope that it marks the beginning of a new phase of Arab action for solidarity among us, for peace in our region, development and prosperity instead of war and destruction,” Mr Al Assad told the summit.
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Vice President Mansour bin Zayed with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Jeddah during the 32nd Arab League Summit. AFP -
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, right, with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Arab League Summit in Jeddah. AFP -
Tunisian President Kais Saied, left, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. AP -
Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, left, and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan. AFP -
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ahead of the Arab League summit in Jeddah. Reuters -
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi talks with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, alongside Tunisia's President Kais Saied, ahead of the summit. Reuters -
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi with Saudia Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, ahead of the summit. Reuters -
Oman's Deputy Prime Minister Asaad bin Tariq Al Said meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Arab League summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters -
Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al Sabah attends the summit. AFP -
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attends the Arab League summit. Photo: Spa -
Jordan's King Abdullah II at the summit. Photo: Spa -
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad participates in the summit in Jeddah. Photo: Spa -
Sheikh Tamim, the Emir of Qatar, attends the summit. Photo: Spa -
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman addresses the summit. Photo: Spa -
Egypt's President Abdul Fattah El Sisi participates in the summit in Jeddah. Photo: Spa -
Prince Mohammed speaks with Sheikh Tamim before the Arab League summit in Jeddah. Reuters -
Prince Mohammed with Mr Zelenskyy before the Arab League summit in Jeddah. Reuters -
Prince Mohammed with Egypt's Mr El Sisi ahead of the summit in Jeddah. Reuters -
Prince Mohammed with Syria's Mr Al Assad in Jeddah. Reuters -
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, with Prince Mohammed in Jeddah. Reuters -
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, with Prince Badr bin Sultan, deputy governor of Makkah, after arriving in Jeddah for the 32nd Arab League summit. Reuters -
Arab leaders before the Arab League summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters -
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Jeddah for the summit. Reuters -
Prince Mohammed greets Mr Al Assad at the Arab League summit in Jeddah. -
Prince Badr greeting Mr Zelenskyy in Jeddah. EPA -
Mr Zelenskyy is welcomed as he arrives for the Arab League meeting. AFP -
Mr Zelenskyy is escorted to the Arab League summit. SPA -
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, arrives at the Arab League Summit in Jeddah. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Jordan's King Abdullah arrives to attend the Arab League Summit. Reuters -
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani. Reuters -
Prince Badr welcomes Morocco's Prince Moulay Rachid. AFP -
Prince Badr with Algeria's Prime Minister Aimene Benabderrahmane after the latter's arrival in Jeddah to take part in the Arab League summit. AFP -
Prince Badr welcomes Mr Benabderrahmane in Jeddah. AFP -
Prince Badr welcomes Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Jeddah for the summit. AFP -
Prince Badr greets Mohamed Al Manfi, the head of Libya's Presidential Council, upon his arrival in Jeddah. AFP -
Syria's Mr Al Assad meets Prince Badr before the Arab League summit. Reuters -
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meets Tunisia's President Kais Saied. AFP -
Watching Mr Al Assad on TV in Damascus on the eve of the summit. AFP -
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan greets his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Jeddah. Photo: Spa -
Prince Badr receives Mr Al Assad. Photo: Spa -
Prince Badr with Asaad bin Tariq Al Said, Oman's Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Co-operation Affairs. Photo: Spa -
Mr Al Assad talks to Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the Arab League, at Jeddah airport. Photo: Spa -
Prince Badr receives Tunisia's Mr Saied in Jeddah. Photo: Spa -
Prince Badr, right, welcomes Oman's Mr Al Said. Photo: Spa -
Prince Badr welcomes Mr Saied in Jeddah on the eve of the Arab League Summit. Photo: Spa -
Mr Al Assad arrives in Jeddah. Reuters -
Prince Badr welcomes Palestine's Mr Abbas. AFP -
Bahrain's King Hamad arrives in Jeddah for the Arab League Summit. AFP -
King Hamad meets Prince Badr, right, in Jeddah. Reuters -
Prince Badr welcomes Egypt's Mr El Sisi in Jeddah before the Arab League summit. AFP -
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati is received by Prince Badr as he arrives in Jeddah. Reuters -
Prince Badr meets Mr Abbas in the Saudi port city. AFP -
Prince Badr welcomes Mr Abbas to Jeddah before the summit. AFP -
Prince Badr walks with King Hamad in Jeddah. AFP
The final communique also addressed the conflict in Sudan, which began more than a month ago when two generals started fighting for control of the country, following disputes over the integration of the Rapid Support Forces militia into the army.
Sudan's army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan – who sent a representative to the summit – took the long-expected step on Friday of removing paramilitary RS chief Gen Mohamed Dagalo – better known as Hemedti – from his post on the ruling Sovereign Council.
Ongoing talks in Jeddah
When asked about the latest US-Saudi efforts regarding efforts to end the conflict in Sudan, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said that the kingdom was still working with Washington to reach a humanitarian truce.
“The situation in Sudan, especially the humanitarian aspect of the conflict, is very dire at the moment and we’re trying from all the diplomatic fronts to push for a truce,” Prince Faisal said.
The Saudi Foreign Minister called on the Sudanese parties to “show responsibility” and resort to dialogue, noting that the Jeddah talks on Sudan would continue in the days to come.
“But it is too early to talk about a breakthrough at the moment,” he added.
The summit focused on the themes of “renewal and change”, as part of the Saudi Crown Prince’s recent efforts to realign foreign policy and engagement in the region.
Riyadh has improved its relations with Iran, restored ties with Syria and is ending the kingdom’s years-long war in Yemen.
Iran, a main backer of the Syrian government in the country's conflict, signed an agreement in China in March to resume relations with Saudi Arabia.
Tehran has also expressed its support for Damascus’s rapprochement with its regional neighbours.
The Arab League’s final communique also mentioned Iran’s nuclear ambitions, saying that any deal with Tehran must directly address the country’s behaviour on the regional stage and its use of proxy groups.
In total, the league passed 32 draft resolutions as part of the Arab action plan for 2023.
'Long way to go'
During the summit’s final press conference, the exercise in mutual dialogue was put the test when one of Syria’s state television reporters confronted Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit on the body's relevance.
The reporter began by asking a question that slowly devolved into a monologue before abruptly asking Mr Aboul Gheit for his thoughts on the “Arab street no longer paying much attention to the Arab League’s work and mechanisms”.
The question irked Mr Aboul Gheit, who interrupted her, saying he did not agree with the question implying the body he heads has lost influence on the regional stage, given the high-level representation from league members at the summit as well as the number of reporters present.
“It’s ironic that this quarrel spoilt the end of the summit but that is an analogy of how far we still have to go in listening to each other despite our difference in approaches toward further co-operation after a decade of not seeing eye to eye on a lot of issues,” one Saudi official told The National after the press conference.
Ending crises
The Arab League’s summit in Jeddah has been a test for Prince Mohammed’s plans to realign the region after more than a decade of conflict.
During his address at the summit, he said he hoped Syria's “return to the Arab League leads to the end of its crisis”.
Saudi Arabia would “not allow our region to turn into a field of conflicts”, he said and added the page had been turned on “painful years of struggle”.
Washington has objected to any steps towards normalisation with Mr Al Assad, saying there must first be progress towards a political solution to the conflict.
“We understand the point of view of the United States and our partners in the West, but addressing the ongoing challenges requires a new approach and that will not come without dialogue,” Prince Faisal told a news conference at the end of the summit.
