Oman welcomes Syria back into Arab fold
Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan, delivered a speech at the opening of the Arab Summit in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on Friday.
At the start, he conveyed the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and his support and backing for the 32nd Arab Summit. “We, in the Sultanate of Oman, perceive that the success of this summit has been achieved through the Arab nations closing ranks, thanks to the wisdom of King Salman (bin Abdulaziz al Saud) and the leaders of Arab countries.”
He also thanked all the Arab leaders for their endeavours to revive Arab solidarity, to end the region’s crises through Arab solutions and to pave the way for a bright future of the nation’s march. “This will benefit our countries, our peoples and our Arab nation. It will undoubtedly reflect positively on other countries of the world.”
Sayyid Asaad said that in his first address to the nation after assuming power, His Majesty the Sultan pledged to continue backing the Arab League, cooperate with leaders of Arab countries, improve the lives of citizens, distance this region from conflicts and disagreements and take steps to achieve economic integration that serves the aspirations of the Arab peoples.
“From the vantage point of those principles and goals, we are pleased to welcome the resumption of the active participation of the brotherly Syrian Arab Republic in the tasks of the League of Arab States. We would like to express satisfaction with the presence and participation of President Bashar al Assad in this summit. We are confident that, God willing, Syria will restore its status as a historical edifice and a recognised Arab lighthouse.”
Speaking on the Palestinian issue, Sayyid Asaad said that Oman, like other countries and peoples who value justice and peace, believes that the inability of the international community to find a fair settlement for the suffering of the Palestinian people is the source of the tensions that from time to time afflict the region and the world.
“We cannot hope for a future for peoples that lies in coexistence and stability without applying the principles and standards of the international law, as well as resolutions of international legitimacy, to the Palestinian cause or without granting the Palestinian people the right to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the lines of June 4, 1967, in accordance with Security Council resolutions issued in this regard, the Arab Peace Initiative and the principle of Land for Peace.”
We are confident that, God willing, Syria will restore its status as a historical edifice and a recognised Arab lighthouse Sayyid ASAAD bin Tarik Al Said
He concluded by saying that Oman is confident that preserving and developing the Arab League will consolidate the bonds of cooperation, integration and exchange of benefits among Arab countries and other countries of the world.
“This confidence stems from the cultural heritage of the Arab nation, its civilised history and its contribution to humanity. We hereby affirm our ability, as an Arab nation, to elevate our countries to broader horizons of prosperity and progress and place our peoples in the position that they deserve.”