Qatar Holds Steady on Syria Ties Despite Arab League Vote

Qatar has not altered its official stance on normalizing ties with Syria despite the recent Arab League vote in favor of reinstating Syria’s membership after a 12-year suspension, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said on Monday. Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari emphasized that the country’s position on restoring ties with Syria is primarily tied to the attainment of a political solution that fulfills the aspirations of the Syrian people. Although Qatar has supported achieving Arab consensus, it has not changed its official position, he said.

The Arab League vote came after high-level talks were held in Amman between representatives from Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq to reach a political solution to the Syrian conflict. The upcoming Arab League Summit, scheduled for May 19 and hosted by Saudi Arabia, also looms on the horizon.

Since the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, Qatar has been a vocal critic of President Bashar Assad’s regime, supporting the opposition and advocating for his removal from power.