The decision was announced on Sunday during an emergency Arab League meeting held in Cairo. The United Arab Emirates, which re-established ties with Syria in late 2018, has been leading the recent efforts to reintegrate Damascus into the Arab fold.
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Following the announcement, Syria’s foreign ministry stressed the importance of “Arab cooperation”. In the streets of the capital, Damascus, the decision to re-admit Syria into the Arab League was met with joy by local residents.
“From the beginning, this shouldn’t have happened. Syria is an integral member at the Arab League and so we welcome this news. We hope that it is a fresh start and a return of good relations with other Arab countries that could help the Syrian people”, said local resident, Ahmed Eissi.
Another local resident, Ibrahim Taani, added:
“The return of Syria to the Arab League is a great decision that could help ease some of the needs of the Syrian people, whether that’s travel or economic stability. The dollar is crazy now and prices are expensive, so hopefully prices will go down and the citizens can rest more than before”.
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The Arab League suspended Damascus in November 2011 over its crackdown on peaceful protests which began earlier that year and which spiralled into a conflict that has killed more than 500,000 people, displaced millions and battered the country’s infrastructure and industry.