Absence Of Syria At Arab League Economic Summit Creates Vacuum - Lebanese Foreign Minister

The absence of a delegation from Syria at the upcoming Arab League Economic and Social Development Summit in Beirut will create vacuum at the forum, Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said on Friday

BEIRUT (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th January, 2019) The absence of a delegation from Syria at the upcoming Arab League Economic and Social Development Summit in Beirut will create vacuum at the forum, Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said on Friday.

The summit is expected to open in the Lebanese capital on Saturday and last through Sunday. Meanwhile, the Syrian ambassador in Lebanon said that Syria, whose membership in the Arab League was suspended back in 2011, did receive an invitation to attend the economic forum but declined it. The Arab League, however, refuted the statement, insisting that Damascus had not been invited to attend the event.

"[The absence of] Syria will leave the largest vacuum at this conference," Bassil said, speaking in front of the Arab League foreign ministers.

Syria's membership of the Arab League was suspended following the beginning of the civil war in the country. Syria, which is one of the founding states of the Arab League, condemned the decision, considering the move illegal. Since then, Damascus has not been participating in the work of the organization.

The armed conflict also prompted dozens of countries, including some of the league members, to close their embassies in Damascus. However, last December, the United Arab Emirates, one of the league members, became the first Gulf country to reopen its embassy in the Syrian capital. Immediately afterward, Bahrain, another Arab League state, announced that it would restore its diplomatic mission in Syria as well.