Arab News

DUBAI: Arab foreign ministers are expected to announce on Sunday Syria’s conditional return to the Arab League. 

Foreign ministers of Arab League countries met in Egypt’s capital Cairo on Sunday for two extraordinary meetings to discuss the latest developments in Syria and Sudan.

The meeting in the Egyptian capital took place ahead of the Arab League Summit in Saudi Arabia on May 19, where many have expected to see a partial or full return of Syria following a rapid rapprochement with regional governments since February.
It also took place days after regional top diplomats met in Jordan to discuss a roadmap to return Syria to the Arab fold as the conflict continues to deescalate. The meeting, involving Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Egypt, discussed Syria’s membership and ways for the return of Syrian refugees from neighboring countries, and the Syrian authorities plans to extend their control over all areas of Syria.

Syria’s membership in the Arab League was suspended 12 years ago early in the uprising-turned-conflict, which has killed nearly a half million people since March 2011 and displaced half of the country’s pre-war population of 23 million.
The Arab League usually attempts to make decisions by consensus, but decisions otherwise could pass with a simple majority vote.