Big turnaround: Syria’s ‘return of refugees’ declaration as Assad heads to Saudi Arabia

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who recently took steps to normalize relations with several Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, went to Jeddah to attend the Arab League summit for the first time since 2010.

Arriving at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah last night for today’s Arab League summit, Assad and his accompanying delegation were met at the airport by Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abu Geyt and senior Saudi officials.

It was claimed that Assad went to the country at the invitation of the King of Saudi Arabia. The Syrian leader’s participation in the Jeddah summit marks the country’s return to the Arab world, in addition to turning a new page in the region after the war that broke out in 2011.

The Arab League suspended Syria’s membership on November 12, 2011 due to the war that broke out in the country, and many countries in the union, including Saudi Arabia, supported the armed opposition fighting the Assad regime.

NORMALIZATION WIND IN THE MIDDLE EAST

With the Syrian government’s victory in the war with Russian military support, many countries in the region have recently changed direction and are taking steps to normalize with Damascus. Diplomatic contacts between Damascus and Arab countries intensified after the earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria in February, killing more than 6,000 Syrians.

Syrian leader Assad met with the deputy governor of Mecca, Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, in Jeddah.

The foreign ministers of the member states of the Union agreed on the return of Syria to the Arab League at the Meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers held in Cairo on May 7.

The United States has been objecting to this diplomatic process, which took place at a time when Turkey was also negotiating to normalize relations with Syria. Qatar also stated that it is against Syria’s return to the Arab League.

On the other hand, within the framework of the normalization process in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia took steps to improve relations with Syria’s ally, Iran.

SYRIA: REFUGEES HAVE CONDITIONS FOR RETURN

Meanwhile, Syrian Foreign Ministry officials, who went to Saudi Arabia for the Arab League summit, made notable remarks to Al Arabiya television about the return of refugees in Turkey.

According to the story quoted by the Marbuta News website, ministry officials referring to the return of Syrian refugees, which is on the agenda of Turkey’s elections, said: “We want the refugees to return to their homeland, and there is conditions. for this return. Sanctions against Syria prevent the return of refugees. Turkey’s role in Syria is devastating and Ankara should take a new approach.”