Syria, Saudi Arabia bridging years of rift, thawing ties
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syria and Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday the resumption of consular services and flights between the two countries towards boosting diplomatic relations.
This followed the first official visit by the Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Mekdad to Saudi Arabia since 2012 when the latter cut off relations upon Syria’s al-Assad brutality against his own people.
On Wednesday, al-Mekdad was received by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed al-Khuraiji and a number of diplomats.
Foreign ministers of both countries stressed in a joint statement the importance of taking steps to reach a “comprehensive political settlement of the Syrian crisis that would…achieve national reconciliation, and contribute to the return of Syria to its Arab fold.”
Recently, reports revealed that Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan is expected to travel to Damascus to hand al-Assad a formal invitation to attend the summit that is scheduled for May.
Syria was expelled from the Arab League in 2011 over the government’s brutal crackdown against protestors.
The two parties discussed “the importance of enhancing security and combating terrorism in all its forms.”
Additionally, enhancing cooperation in combating drug smuggling and trafficking was among the points that also were highlighted since Syria during the war has been known to be a primary producer of Captagon that is smuggled and sold in the Golf markets.
The joint statement also stressed the need for Syrian government to restore its power over all parts and “to end the presence of armed militias and external interference in the Syrian internal affairs.”
Among the issues that were tackled in the joint statement were facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid and the return of Syrian refugees to their hometown.
Moreover, there are other Gulf States that rush to normalize ties with the Syrian government, including United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, and Kuwait.
The Feb. 6 earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey has given Arab countries a space to show solidarity and move forwards closer to Syria seeking normalization.