The Lebanese Caretaker Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil regretted the absence of Syria from the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit that kicked off in Beirut on Friday, describing it as the biggest gap.

“We must embrace Syria instead of throwing it into the hands of terrorism, without awaiting a permission from anyone for its return” to the Arab League, said Bassil at the opening session of the summit’s at Beirut’s Phoenicia Hotel.

“Syria is the biggest gap in our conference today and we feel the heaviness of its absence,” he added.

Bassil also thanked every state that has attended, at any level, despite the bad circumstances surrounding the region and country.

“I thank you all because you are here and because you still believe in Lebanon and the Arab League despite the failure that is hitting us,” Bassil went on to say.

Source: Websites