Reviving Syria’s relations with the Arab world; The failure of the Damascus isolation project.
In May 1402, after a 12-year absence, Syria returned to the Arab League. Undoubtedly, this event was one of the most important political developments related to Syria in a recent year. Receiving the invitation of the UAE for the presence of the President of Syria in the climate meeting and also receiving the invitation from bin Salman for the presence of Assad in Saudi Arabia promised the beginning of a new era in the history of relations between Syria and Arab countries.
The presence of Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Moqdad in the meeting of foreign ministers of Arab League members and his meeting with the ministers marked a path that was undoubtedly an important development in the case of Syria in 1402. Syrian President Bashar Assad also arrived in Jeddah on May 28. On the same day, the United Nations expressed its hope that the presence of Bashar al-Assad at the Jeddah Summit would contribute to advancing the political process.
Also, Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia announced: “We are very pleased with the presence of Bashar Assad, the President of Syria, and we hope that Syria’s return to the Arab League will play a role in supporting the security of Syria and lead to the end of the crisis in this country.” All these years of strife and conflict that our nations suffered from is enough for us.” Also, Qais Said, the President of the Republic of Tunisia, Ayman Bin Abdel Rahman, the Prime Minister of Algeria, and other Arab leaders, warmly praised Assad’s presence in Jeddah. Asaad Bin Tariq Al Saeed, the Deputy Prime Minister of Oman, also expressed his hope that Syria will regain its position as the “Light of the Arab Way”.
Aron Lund, an analyst of Middle East affairs and one of Century International’s experts, believes that Syria’s return to the Arab League is a great achievement and victory for the Syrian government. He further said: “Syria is reintegrating in the region and cooperating with other countries. Now other Arab leaders are confident that they should cooperate with Damascus. So let’s accept that this is a political victory for the government of Damascus.”
The photo of the meeting between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, as an image of an important diplomatic development, faced many analyses and in most of the analyses, it was pointed out that Saudi Arabia and others understood it well. They should show respect for the long-standing resistance of the Syrian government.
Bashar Assad and “Bait Arabi”
Despite Bashar Assad’s official presence in Jeddah, some negative attitudes were also observed about this trip. Among other things, the emir of Qatar left the meeting before Bashar al-Assad’s speech in Jeddah and refused to listen to the Syrian president’s speech. But Bashar’s speech, which was prepared smartly, contained precise meanings and phrases that questioned the wrong positions of Turkey and Qatar.