BEIRUT, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah said Thursday that it is in Lebanon's interest for Syria to take part in the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit, which will take place in Beirut later this month, local media reported.

"Lebanon is the closest and most important neighbor to Syria and thus it should initiate in facilitating Syria's return to the Arab League from which it had been suspended since 2011," Hezbollah, a Shiite Islamic political party in Lebanon said in a statement which was released by the National News Agency.

Hezbollah's statement noted that there is a positive attitude among Arab countries with regard to opening up to Syria.

"It would be of a great advantage for Lebanon to be an initiator in this regard," according to the statement.

The Arab economic summit, an event organized by the Arab League, is concerned primarily with developmental issues in the Arab world.

The event is scheduled on Jan. 19-20, 2019, in Lebanese capital Beirut.

However, Syria will not be capable of taking part in the summit because the Arab League passed a decree on Nov. 12, 2011 that suspends Syria's membership.

The Arab League said it froze Syria's membership because its government failed to stop violence against civilian protesters back in 2011.

Political parties close to Syria have been pushing Lebanon to invite Syria to Beirut's summit while parties loyal to the March 14 coalition have warned of the repercussions of such invitation, particularly if taken without the consent of the Arab League. Enditem

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