Lavrov Calls for Syria’s Return to Arab League

Local Editor

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that Syria's return to the Arab League would allow the organization to play a role in finding a political solution to the country's conflict.

"The League could play a more important, more effective role if the Syrian government was part of the organization," Lavrov, whose country is a key ally of Syria and also a broker in peace efforts, told a press conference in the Emirati capital.

He said Syria was a "legitimate" member of the United Nations [UN] and yet "cannot take part in discussions inside the Arab League".

"This does not help our joint [peace] efforts," said Lavrov.

But Arab League Chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who was also at the press conference, ruled out an early return of Syria to the Cairo-based organization.

Any decision was up to the League's 21 other members, he said, adding that the issue was not on the current agenda and would only be raised when "a political settlement" was in sight for Syria's almost six-year-old war.

The Arab League suspended Syria's membership at the end of 2011.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team