Evaluating Syria's rejoining the Arab League after a 12-year hiatus, Asst. Prof. Dr. Fehmi Ağca stated that this situation could contribute to the resolution of the Syrian issue. Ağca, stating, 'If an agreement can be reached through the good-faith efforts of the parties, particularly regarding the return of refugees to Syria, it may be possible to establish a livable and secure environment in Syria,' evaluated the situation regarding the establishment of peace and security in Syria. Ağca added that Syria rejoined the Arab League on May 7, 2023, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was invited by the host, the King of Saudi Arabia, to the summit held on May 19, and he also said that, in addition to Arab countries, Turkey is taking steps towards normalization with Syria. Ağca further added that the most significant obstacle to establishing peace and security in Syria is the United States.
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The Biggest Obstacle to Peace and Security in Syria is the US!
Üsküdar Üniversitesi, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Political Science and International Relations (English), Asst. Prof. Dr. Fehmi Ağca evaluated Syria's rejoining the Arab League after a 12-year hiatus.
Turkey holds permanent observer status
Reminding that the Arab League was founded in Cairo on March 22, 1945, by the states of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, Asst. Prof. Dr. Fehmi Ağca said, “The Arab League, headquartered in Cairo, currently has 22 members. Turkey has held permanent observer status since 2006.”
Ağca noted that despite the Arab League's permanent headquarters being in Cairo, Arab League summits are held in different cities each year, and the first meeting in 2023 took place on May 19, 2023, in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
The Arab League was established to support members in all matters
Ağca stated that the purpose of establishing the Arab League is to strengthen and coordinate the political, cultural, economic, and social programs of its members, and to mediate disputes that may arise between them or with third parties. He also listed the areas of cooperation as “Economic and financial matters covering trade, customs, exchange rates, agriculture, and industry; cooperation in communication, including railways, roads, aviation, maritime, postal services, and telegraph; cultural cooperation; citizenship, passports, visas, enforcement of court judgments and extradition of criminals; cooperation in social security matters; and cooperation in healthcare.”
Every Arab State has the right to join the Arab League
Ağca stated that the Arab League Charter, also known as the Pact of the League of Arab States, is the founding treaty of the Arab League. He explained the conditions for joining the Arab League by saying, “Accordingly, the League of Arab States shall consist of independent Arab States that have signed this Agreement. Every Arab State has the right to join the Arab League and shall submit its application for admission to the General Secretariat, to be submitted to the Council of the Arab League at its first meeting.”
On May 7, 2023, Syria rejoined the Arab League
Reminding that Syria's membership was suspended on November 16, 2011, Asst. Prof. Dr. Fehmi Ağca made the following statement: “On March 6, 2013, the Arab League granted Syria's seat to the Syrian National Coalition, on the grounds that it represented Syria. On March 9, 2014, Secretary-General Nabil Al-Arabi stated that Syria's seat would remain vacant until the opposition bodies completed their formation. On May 7, 2023, Syria rejoined the Arab League. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was invited by the host, the King of Saudi Arabia, to the summit held on May 19. In addition to Arab countries, Turkey is also taking steps towards normalization with Syria. Following discussions at the deputy foreign ministers and defense ministers level between Turkey, Russia, Iran, and Syria, the foreign ministers met in Moscow on May 10 for a third round of talks.”
Syria's membership was suspended due to attempts to brutally suppress peaceful protests
Ağca noted that 18 members of the 22-member Arab League suspended Damascus's membership in November 2011 due to its attempts to brutally suppress peaceful protests. “At that time, outside Syria, Iranian-influenced Lebanon and Yemen voted in favor of Assad. Iraq abstained. Over 500,000 people died during the civil war, and millions were displaced. Currently, the northern parts of Syria are outside Assad's control and are controlled by the YPG terrorist organization, supported by the US. The portion of Northern Syria west of the Euphrates River, however, is under the control of the Turkish Armed Forces and the Free Syrian Army,” he stated.
Ağca added that after 12 years of civil war, the Damascus regime has largely established control in other regions, and stated that the most significant problems are the situation of the opposition and refugees, and the uncertainty of a political solution for the northern territories.
‘A livable, secure environment in Syria may be possible’
Ağca stated that Syria's rejoining the league could contribute to the resolution of the Syrian issue, saying, “If an agreement can be reached through the good-faith efforts of the Arab League countries and the parties to the issue — Russia, Iran, and Turkey — especially concerning the return of refugees to Syria, it may be possible to establish a livable and secure environment in Syria.”
Ağca, stating, “Currently, the most significant obstacle to ensuring peace and security in Syria appears to be the United States,” made the assessment: “From the very beginning of the problem, the US has sought the fragmentation of Syria. Its objective is to establish a terrorist state controlled by the PKK terrorist organization in the region east of the Euphrates River and in the northern area adjacent to Turkey's border. The US is not backing down in this process, which has extremely negative impacts on its relations with NATO ally Turkey; on the contrary, it continues to increase its arms aid and political support to the PKK terrorist organization. If the Arab League resolutely cooperates with Turkey in resolving the Syrian issue, it may be possible to create resistance against the US's divisive policies, prepare a new constitution in line with Syria's democratic transformation, and subsequently re-establish peace, security, and public order in the country through democratic elections.”