BEIRUT, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said on Sunday that positive momentum among Arab countries toward Syria's return to the Arab League (AL) was felt during the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit held in Beirut.

Bassil made the remarks during his joint press conference with the AL chief Ahmad Aboul-Gheit after the conclusion of the Arab economic summit.

Lebanon has pushed for the return of Syria to the AL in the past few days, which is in the interest of Lebanon and all other Arab countries, he said.

Syria's AL membership was suspended in November 2011 through the rising casualties in the violent clashes during anti-government protests.