Conclusion of the Bahrain Summit... America comments on the participation of the President of the Syrian regime

Welat TV - Erbil

The Arab Presidents' Summit meetings concluded yesterday evening, Thursday, in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, within the thirty-third regular session of the Council of the League of Arab States at the summit level.

The draft final statement leaked by the media stressed "the necessity of ending the Syrian crisis in accordance with Resolution 2254." Bashar al-Assad participates in the summit

The President of the Syrian regime, Bashar al-Assad, participated in the thirty-third session of the Council of the League of Arab States at the summit level, after arriving with a delegation that included "Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad, his deputy Bassam Sabbagh, Assistant Foreign Minister Habib Abbas, and the ambassador to Bahrain, Muhammad Ali Ibrahim."

The President of the Syrian regime attended the summit without giving a speech, and his participation was limited to side meetings.

Al-Assad's participation in the Arab Summit is the second since 2011, when Syria's seat in the Arab League was frozen, against the backdrop of the regime resorting to the military option to suppress the "Syrian revolution."

The final statement stresses the need to end the “crisis” In an unofficial version of the draft final statement of the thirty-third Arab summit in Bahrain, published by Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, it was affirmed that “the necessity of ending the Syrian crisis in accordance with Security Council Resolution No. 2254, in a way that preserves Syria’s security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, fulfills the aspirations of its people, and rids it of terrorism.”

It provides an environment conducive to the voluntary and safe return of refugees.” The statement also stressed "the rejection of interference in Syria's internal affairs, and any attempts to bring about demographic changes there."

America doubts Assad's willingness to take steps towards a political solution

During a press conference, in response to a question regarding the presence of the head of the Syrian regime at the Arab Summit in Manama, and the position on normalization, US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said: “The position of the United States on this issue is clear. We will not normalize relations with the Syrian regime until progress is made.”

A concrete solution towards a political solution in line with Security Council Resolution 2254.” He added: America is constantly communicating with the Arab League countries and encouraging them to put pressure on the Syrian regime to bring about real change.

The American official stressed that the United States doubts, for obvious reasons, the Assad regime’s willingness “to take the necessary steps to resolve the dangerous crisis, and to take measures that are in the interest of the Syrian people.”

Adding that they "agree with our Arab partners on the ultimate goal in this regard."