DAMASCUS: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has received an invitation to attend the upcoming Arab summit in Saudi Arabia, marking the first such invitation extended to him since the start of the country’s war in 2011, according to the Syrian presidency on Wednesday.
The invitation to Syrian President was sent by Saudi King Salman, inviting Assad to participate in the thirty-second Arab League summit scheduled to be held in Jeddah on May 19, as stated in a press release from the Syrian presidency.
Assad expressed his belief that the summit “will strengthen collective Arab efforts in fulfilling the aspirations of the Arab peoples,” the statement further mentioned.
The invitation was delivered by Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Jordan, Nayef bin Bandar al-Sudairi, signifying a significant step in the recent diplomatic developments between the two nations.
Arab League welcomes Syria back into fold
This comes after the Arab League announced on Sunday its welcome of Syria’s government back into the fold, effectively ending Assad’s long-standing isolation within the Arab community. Syria was suspended from the pan-Arab body in November 2011 due to its brutal crackdown on protests, which eventually escalated into a devastating war claiming the lives of over 500,000 people and causing mass displacement and destruction.
Assad’s last attendance at an Arab League summit was in 2010, held in Libya, prior to the outbreak of the conflict in Syria.
The invitation from Saudi Arabia follows an announcement made the previous day by Riyadh and Damascus, revealing that the two countries will reopen their respective diplomatic missions after more than a decade of severed ties.
The political landscape in the region has witnessed a recent shift with a flurry of diplomatic activities, triggered by the decision of arch-rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore diplomatic relations.
As preparations for the Arab summit continue, the participation of President Assad will undoubtedly be closely watched, as it signifies a potential turning point in Syria’s reintegration into the Arab community and highlights the evolving dynamics within the region.
