Everyday I take a quick glance at Al Jazeera on my phone in order to catch up on the important international news of the day. Today as I was browsing through Al Jazeera I had stumbled upon some news which is one of the most groundbreaking events that I've heard in weeks. Today the Arab League which consist of 22 nations across North Africa and the Middle East have decided to let Syria rejoin the Arab League. Syria has been banned from the Arab League since September 20, 2011 due to reports on their actions against non-regime supporters during the Arab Spring. This reintroduction is even more interesting due to the fact that Assad and his regime will no longer be representing Syria in the Arab League and the Syrian National Coalition which is Assad's enemy will actually be representing Syria in the League until a new government can be formed free from Assad. Not only is this important, but the conflict could come to a quick end due to the leagues ruling that they may assist militarily and economically in order to help any member state, and in this case consist of the Syrian opposition.
This news is groundbreaking in that all legitimacy to Syria's Assad has been virtually lost and a transition to a new government and the rebirth of their currently destroyed economy is in the near future. The conflict in Syria has reached a monumental amount of violence for a country of only 22 million with over 70,000 dead and a million refugees, these statistics have not only physically hurt the people, but their standard of living is in shambles with work being virtually impossible in many parts of the country due to immense amounts of violence and destroyed infrastructure. New benefits have risen out of the rejoining the league, in that they now are in participation with the Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU) and no sanctions will be held against Syria and economic aid will be given to the Syrian National Coalition. Economic gains in Syria are currently small and will remain to be small and slow until this entire mess of a conflict is over, but this short advancement in policy has probably been the largest step in this conflict since its start two years ago. After a new regime is in place, it is up in the air which way Syria will go with their economy but new ties can and will be made with Syria's new regime creating a new political and economic atmosphere in the Middle East. Despite this gain this immense scale of violence in Syria has sent its economy into shambles and despite the creation of a new regime their is much work that is needed to create an economically stable Syria.
The number of Syrian refugees has reached the millions. I am surprised to hear that they have rejoined the Arab League, as many are considering Syria on the path to being a failed state. I wonder, though, if rejoining the Arab League will actually be that much help to a country where the population is fleeing to the surrounding countries. What good is it to join a regional organization if your state is failing and your population is decreasing by the thousands each day? Although I'm sure it helps to be a part of the Arab League, I'm not convinced it will have a great effect on getting Syria back on it's feet.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting development and one that flew under the US media radar . Thankyou Al Jazeera for providing great news ! I feel like this is the ultimate slap in the face for Assad's crumbling regime.It is also good evidence that the Arab League of nations know that it is only a matter of time before a new government is formed. In itself they have placed a self fulfilling prophecy into effect.
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