May 19, 2013
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The week's top five must-sees,
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Description
The League of Arab States, commonly called the Arab League, is a regional organization of Arab states in and around North Africa and Southwest Asia. It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria. Yemen joined as a member on 5 May 1945. Currently, the League has 22 members, although Syria's participation has been suspended since November 2011 as a consequence of government repression during the ongoing uprising and civil war.
The League's main goal is to "draw closer the relations between member States and co-ordinate collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab countries".
Through institutions such as the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization and the Economic and Social Council of the Arab League's Council of Arab Economic Unity, the Arab League facilitates political, economic, cultural, scientific and social programs designed to promote the interests of the Arab world. It has served as a forum for the member states to coordinate their policy positions, to deliberate on matters of common concern, to settle some Arab disputes, and to limit conflicts such as the 1958 Lebanon crisis. The League has served as a platform for the drafting and conclusion of many landmark documents promoting economic integration. One example is the Joint Arab Economic Action Charter which sets out the principles for economic activities in the region.
(via Freebase)
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![Syrians mark Thursday of French Journalist Gilles Jacquier [Future TV, Lebanon]](/images/image_cache/base-313000/313655/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=d51998e6d095b2ebd0e2aa7422627c2b)
![Syria's Assad blames unrest on 'foreign conspiracy' [New TV, Lebanon]](/images/image_cache/base-313000/313615/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=00260233e2ac451277315e77d534c448)
![Free Syrian Army urges Arabs to seek UN help [BBC Arabic, UK]](/images/image_cache/base-313000/313530/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=ccaaab16ac985b38066551a555e00477)
![Arab League's mission in Syria faces growing criticism [New TV, Lebanon]](/images/image_cache/base-313000/313498/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=8051b3062ca5e8de1d967ba3503bc39c "Protesters cover their faces from tear gas being fired in Adlb December 30, 2011: REUTERS: Handout")
![Free Syrian Army commander threatens to escalate attacks on Assad's regime [Future TV, Lebanon]](/images/image_cache/base-313000/313492/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=8b58af340b0a720f89fb823bca8bccd6)