Rabat – Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani reportedly walked out of the Arab Summit in Jeddah ahead of the speech of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.
The gulf country’s Amiri Diwan confirmed the news, stating that the Emir left Jeddah after heading the Qatari delegation to the summit.
According to the official statement, the Qatari Emir left a message for the Saudi King and Crown Prince in which he hoped that the summit “would contribute to strengthening joint Arab action for the benefit of the Arab peoples.”
The Emir did not appear to speak at the summit.
This year’s summit marks the first one with Syrian presence since the country was expelled from the regional organization in 2011 due to its crackdown on anti-government protests that started that same year.
Al-Assad was seen exchanging warm handshakes and welcomes with other Arab leaders during the summit, which also marked his first ever meeting with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
After a push by Saudi Arabia earlier this year, Syria has been readmitted into the organization, despite initial opposition from several member nations.
Qatar was one of the countries that opposed the readmission of Al-Assad’s Syria, having openly supported the protests and the rebels fighting the Al-Assad regime.
Read also: Saudi Push to Bring Back Syria to Arab League Faces Pushback
During his speech at the summit, Al-Assad spoke of a “historic opportunity” to address regional crises, and expressed hopes to see Syria’s readmission become the beginning of a new era of Arab action for solidarity and peace.
The long-ostracized president said Syria would always belong in the Arab world, but called for non-interference in internal affairs from other Arab states.
“It is important to leave internal affairs to the country’s people as they are best able to manage their own affairs,” he said.
