Context:
Recently, the Arab League has re-admitted Syria into the organization, after a suspension over a decade.
Relevance:
GS II: International Relations
Dimensions of the Article:
- Suspension of Syria from the Arab League
- Readmission of Syria to the Arab League
- Arab League
Suspension of Syria from the Arab League
- Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 due to violent crackdown on anti-government protests.
- The Arab League had called for a peace plan that included the withdrawal of military forces, release of political prisoners, and dialogue with opposition groups.
- Despite attempts at peace negotiations, the violence continued and led to Syria’s suspension.
- The suspension had economic and diplomatic consequences for Syria.
Readmission of Syria to the Arab League
- The readmission signifies a softening of relations between Syria and other Arab governments.
- It is viewed as the start of a gradual process to resolve the crisis in Syria.
- The crisis has led to the displacement of half of the pre-war population and over 300,000 civilian deaths.
- A committee involving Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq will be established to help Syria achieve these goals.
- However, the decision does not automatically lead to a resumption of relationships between Arab states and Syria. Each country will decide this individually.
- The readmission calls for a resolution of the crisis caused by Syria’s civil war, including the flight of refugees to neighboring countries and drug smuggling across the region.
Arab League:
- Inter-governmental pan-Arab organization of Arab states in the Middle East and North Africa
- Formed in Cairo, Egypt on 22nd March 1945, following the adoption of the Alexandria Protocol in 1944
- Currently has 22 Arab countries as members: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen
Objective:
- Aims to strengthen and coordinate the political, cultural, economic, and social programs of its members
- Mediates disputes among its members or between them and third parties
- Signed an agreement on joint defense and economic cooperation on 13th April 1950, committing signatories to coordination of military defense measures
-Source: Indian Express