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Syria’s return to Arab League will encourage political settlement, says Lavrov

The Arab League suspended Syria’s membership in November 2011

MOSCOW, February 18. /TASS/. Syria’s return to the League of Arab States will contribute to searching for a political solution to the Syrian crisis and normalizing the relations between Damascus and Arab countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a joint news conference after talks with his Omani counterpart Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah on Monday.

"We share stance on Syria," Lavrov said. "The Security Council Resolution 2254 has no alternative, it should be fully implemented and in this context we informed our interlocutors about the efforts taken in this direction by the countries-guarantors of the Astana format - Russia, Iran and Turkey - including the outcome of the February 14 summit of the Astana trio in Sochi."

According to Lavrov, Russia is convinced that normalization of ties between Syria and other Arab states and its return to the Arab League would contribute to solving these issues.

The Arab League suspended Syria’s membership in November 2011 amid the civil war that had engulfed the country. Most of the Arab nations recalled their ambassadors from the capital and joined the economic boycott against Damascus. During the conflict, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and a number of other states provided financial and military assistance to the armed units opposing the Syrian government.