Officials said Jordan would host Arab foreign ministers and Syria’s top diplomat on Monday to discuss Syria’s readmission to the Arab League as part of a political settlement of Syria’s more than decade-old conflict.
Jordanian government sources stated that Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad and his colleagues from Egypt, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia would discuss a Jordanian plan for a political settlement.
Two weeks after the Gulf Cooperation Council, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq failed to agree on Syria’s future Arab return in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the summit took place.
After a crackdown on protesters denouncing President Bashar al-Assad’s authoritarian rule sparked a devastating civil war, most Arab states voted to suspend Syria’s League membership in 2011.
Arab governments and those most affected by the crisis are attempting to decide whether to invite Assad to the Arab League meeting on May 19 in Riyadh to discuss normalizing ties with Assad and Syria’s return.
Officials said the Jordanian initiative calls Damascus to work with Arab governments on a step-by-step conflict resolution.
It would address refugees, thousands of missing inmates, drug smuggling between Syria and the Gulf through Jordan, and Iranian militants in Syria.
Regional power Saudi Arabia has opposed normalizing relations with Assad. Still, after reuniting with Iran, Syria’s important regional partner, a new strategy was needed with Damascus, which is under Western sanctions.
Qatar, Jordan, and Kuwait opposed inviting Assad to the Arab League conference in Jeddah unless Damascus supported a peace proposal.
Officials say Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, met with visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf on Sunday.
Washington, which calls Syria a “rogue” state, has pushed Arab governments who have changed their attitude to seek something in return for dealing with Assad again.
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