Syrian FM makes first visit to Saudi Arabia since 2011
Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad has arrived for a visit to Saudi Arabia, as ties between Damascus and Riyadh grow, and a restoration of relations between the two Arab countries becomes increasingly likely, Al Jazeera reports.
Syrian FM makes first visit to Saudi Arabia since 2011
Geurasia

Syrian FM makes first visit to Saudi Arabia since 2011

Photo: AFP/SPA
Eurasia 13/04/2023 07:00

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad has arrived for a visit to Saudi Arabia, as ties between Damascus and Riyadh grow, and a restoration of relations between the two Arab countries becomes increasingly likely, Al Jazeera reports.

Mekdad arrived in Jeddah on Wednesday having been invited by the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, both Saudi and Syrian state media reported, according to the news site. The two were set to “hold a session of talks on efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the unity, security and stability of Syria”, the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement.
Photo: AFP/SPA
The visit is the first by a Syrian foreign minister to Saudi Arabia since 2011, when the war in Syria began. Saudi Arabia supported the Syrian opposition, but ties have thawed in recent months, Al Jazeera reminds, adding that Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has largely defeated the opposition with Russian and Iranian backing.

According to the news site, over the past few months, there has been increasing engagement with al-Assad, who has been isolated since the start of the Syrian war. "Al-Assad has visited the UAE and Oman this year, and last month Saudi Arabia said it has started talks with Damascus about resuming consular services," the website recalls, adding that on Friday, Saudi Arabia will host a meeting of regional foreign ministers on Friday to discuss the return of Syria to the Arab League.

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