Arab nations hope to play a "leading role" in settling Syria's civil war

Following meetings aimed at lessening Damascus' isolation, the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council as well as Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan agreed on Friday that the Arab community must take the lead in efforts to mediate a resolution to Syria's war.

At the invitation of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the top diplomats from GCC members Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as those from Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, gathered in Jeddah.

According to a statement issued by the Saudi foreign ministry early on Saturday, the ministers emphasized the "importance of having an Arab leadership role in efforts to end the crisis".

Syria's membership in the Arab League was terminated in 2011 due to the government's ruthless suppression of anti-President Bashar Al Assad rallies. Over half a million people have died in the civil war that started as protests and forced approximately half of the population from their homes, including millions who fled to neighboring nations.

Following the terrible earthquake on February 6, which left millions of people in need of relief in southern Turkey and northern Syria, there has been a gradual lessening of the Assad government's isolation. Foreign ministers from many Arab nations traveled to Damascus to express their condolences to Mr. Al Assad and to provide aid to the earthquake victims, the majority of whom reside in the remaining rebel-held area of northwest Syria.

The Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad visited Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for the first time since the war started in order to meet with Prince Faisal in Jeddah. This visit was the latest indication of a thawing of hostilities with Damascus, which continues to be subject to western sanctions due to the war.

According to a Saudi statement on Wednesday, Mr. Mekdad and his Saudi colleague discussed "the necessary steps" to end Damascus' isolation.

According to a statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry, senior Arab diplomats "agreed on the importance of resolving the humanitarian crisis" in Syria and creating conditions that would permit refugee returns during the meeting of foreign ministers on Friday.

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