Syria’s likely return to the Arab League is good for unity
I nDecember last year, Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir became the first Arab League leader to visit Syrian capital Damascus since the start of the Syrian conflict nearly eight years ago. Syria was expelled from the 22-member Arab League soon after war broke out in 2011, and diplomatic ties were severed over the years. Now, the Arab league seems to be exploring possibilities of resetting relations with Damascus and normalise official engagement.
Such an approach could be mutually beneficial for Syria and the Arab League in multiple ways. First, engaging more with Syria and getting it back into the Arab fold could help keep Iranian influence in check. Second, greater cooperation with Damascus could counter Turkish ambitions, too. The Erdogan regime, under the pretext of protecting its frontiers from the Kurds, is invading northern Syrian cities and imposing its cultural and political influence.
Years of war have ravaged Syria. Areas that were once bustling with life now lay in rubble. Houses and buildings have been razed to the ground. It might take years to rebuild places and give it a semblance of normality. A new Arab approach, therefore, could help Syrians and the Bashar Al Assad regime reconstruct the nation. The Arab countries, especially the ones in the Gulf, can play a prominent role here in contrast to Iran, a country that suffers from economic crisis of its own making and doesn’t have the means to help the Syrians.
The Syrian conflict is nearing an end. The Assad regime, on its part, must now show good intentions and prepare a new Constitution that takes care of all the Syrian political factions, excluding the extremists, of course.
The Arab
League, on its part, should go ahead and get
Syria back under the Arab umbrella. The UAE and
Bahrain already have made first moves to restore ties with the Assad regime by reopening their embassies in Syria. This is a smart move that could go a long way in normalising ties.
Syria is an Arab Muslim state and shares a rich history with the region. It is an important part of the Arab land, an important organ that cannot be abandoned. Arab leaders have once made a mistake in Iraq, by abandoning the country and allowing Iranians to fill the vacuum with the blessings of the United States. It should not repeat that mistake now as Syrians are calling for help.
Restoring official ties with Syria is the first step. The Arab League should then look at reintegrating trade and economic ties with the country and its neighbouring nations which will help them find their footing after years of war.
Lebanon, for instance, welcomed nearly two million Syrian refugees over the years. It has a central role to play in offering a platform to companies and potential Syrian labour force. It would be rather easy for the Syrian refugees to return to their homeland from Lebanon because of the geographical proximity. Lebanon is connected to Syria by roads and also has a maritime route through the ports of Tripoli and Beirut. In addition, Lebanon has sufficient knowledge and experience in several sectors and contributes to the Syrian education and health sectors.
Trade and commerce will also help Lebanon as the Lebanese port could be used to ship products. Also, the Lebanese hotels and tourism sector could see a revival.
The Arab approach has alerted Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s regime in Turkey, which is keen to secure its interests in Syria. But the Syrians are likely to be more inclined to seek support from their Arab brothers, especially the ones who were neutral during the conflict and didn’t burden the country with more problems.
Ultimately, countries that are genuinely interested in creating a secure and stable environment for Syrians should be the ones who should contribute to the reconstruction process. Christiane Waked is a risk analyst based in Beirut
Syrians are likely to be more inclined to seek support from their Arab brothers, especially the ones who were neutral during the conflict and didn’t burden the country with more problems.