Saudi Arabia calls for political solution to Syrian conflict

ALGIERS, Algeria

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday called for a political solution to the Syrian conflict.

"The kingdom is keen to maintain Syria's security and stability and supports all efforts aimed at finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis,” Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told the 31st Arab summit in Algeria.

Syria’s membership in the Cairo-based Arab League was suspended in 2011 over a harsh crackdown on pro-democracy protests by the Bashar al-Assad regime.

On Tuesday, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit for reaching a settlement to the Syrian conflict.

"The developments in Syria still require a pioneering Arab effort," Aboul Gheit told the summit. "It is necessary to show flexibility from all parties so that the economic collapse and political blockage can be dispelled. Syria must engage in its natural Arab environment.”

The two-day Arab summit is set to close later Wednesday. It was the first summit to be held in three years since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Tunisia was the last to host the summit in 2019.

* Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report