News - Middle East: The Arab League has welcomed Syria’s readmission to the 22-member organization, saying the presence of Damascus in ongoing meetings in the Saudi port city of Jeddah ushers in a new era in the Arab world.

Hossam Zaki, the assistant secretary general of the Arab League, made the statement ahead of the second consecutive day of the Arab Economic and Social Council meetings attended by the member states' representatives and senior officials in Jeddah on Tuesday.

“I gave a speech today on behalf of the secretary-general of the Arab League, in which we welcomed the presence of Syria, which paves the way for a new phase of the Arab situation and benefits all societies,” Zaki said.

“We are keen, through these meetings, to ensure that the discussed topics are of interest to Arab citizens and their reality,” he added. “We have not yet achieved economic integration at the highest level, but there are good steps we have taken to achieve this integration.”

The second preparatory meeting of the Arab summit, scheduled to be held in Jeddah on May 19, started on Tuesday with the participation of Syria’s delegation chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Ayman Sousan.

The meetings of the Arab Economic and Social Council are discussing ways to enhance joint Arab action to achieve sustainable development, and other social and economic issues of concern to Arab countries.

"We again welcome the presence of Syrian delegation at these meetings,” Hamid Chabeira, the Algerian ambassador in Cairo and permanent representative in the Arab League, said in a speech, stressing the need for unity and solidarity among the Arab countries.