​​​​​​​British newspaper: Arab hesitation regarding readmitting Syria to Arab League

A meeting bringing together Arab foreign ministers to discuss readmitting Syria to the Arab League ended without an agreement, highlighting deep divisions across the region after nearly 12 years of war, according to a report by the British Financial Times.

The talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah come days after the visit of the Syrian foreign minister to the Saudi Arabia kingdom, which is considering inviting Assad to attend the Arab League summit next month.

The newspaper quoted two informed officials as saying that there is opposition to the Saudi rapprochement from countries, including Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan.

An official said, "One of the points of disagreement was the" Captagon " pills, as its trade has become the economic lifeline of the Assad regime, adding, "Syria has become a drug state, with a trade of 4 or 5 billion dollars annually."

Another official said that "reaccepting Syria while Iran has forces in the country and exerts influence over Assad." He added, "We surrender to the Iranians".

Diplomats and Saudi officials said that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wants to focus on his economic reforms without the threat of war and regional troubles.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said in February that there was a growing consensus in the region that isolating Syria no longer work. And Al-Assad visited the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman this year.

Informed officials said that Egypt, where the Arab League center is based, has conditionally dropped its opposition to Assad, and wants at least to show progress on the political solution.

The Arab relations with Assad could anger the United States, which has imposed sanctions on Syria.

Sh-S

ANHA