Riyadh, Damascus take steps to reopen embassies

DAMASCUS/RIYADH — Syria and Saudi Arabia are moving toward reopening embassies and resuming flights between the two countries for the first time in more than a decade, the countries said in a joint statement on Thursday.

On Wednesday, a delegation headed by Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, at the invitation of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, arrived in Saudi Arabia for talks about bilateral relations between the two countries, state media from the two countries reported.

Saudi state media reported that Mekdad was received by the kingdom's Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed al-Khuraiji. The meeting focused on the steps needed 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", the two countries said in a joint statement.

The two sides also discussed "the importance of enhancing security and combating terrorism in all its forms, and enhancing cooperation in combating drug smuggling and trafficking", the statement added.

The talks also focused on "the need to support … the Syrian state to extend its control over its territories to end the presence of armed militias and external interference in the Syrian internal affairs", as well as on facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid and the return of Syrian refugees to stabilize the situation in the country.

Also on Wednesday, Tunisia and Syria, which cut off bilateral relations in 2012, decided to reopen their respective embassies to resume diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Tunisian President Kais Saied announced earlier this month that he had directed the country's foreign ministry to appoint a new ambassador to Syria.

His move was reciprocated by the Syrian government, a joint statement from the two countries' foreign ministries said on Wednesday, Syrian state news agency SANA reported.

Envoy approved

"Following the initiative undertaken by President Kais Saied to appoint a Tunisian ambassador to Syria, the Syrian side gave their approval to this appointment," a ministry statement read.

Since the outbreak of civil war in 2011, Syria has been isolated from the Arab world. The breakdown in relations culminated with Syria being ousted from the Arab League.

However, as the Syrian government has consolidated control over most of the country in recent years, Syria's neighbors have begun taking steps toward rapprochement. The overtures have picked up pace since the massive Feb 6 earthquake in Turkiye and Syria, and the China-brokered reestablishment of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, regional rivals that had backed opposing sides in the Syrian conflict.

Saudi Arabia plans to invite Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the Arab League summit in Riyadh, which is scheduled to host on May 19, where most states hope to restore Syria's membership, the league's Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said.

Agencies - Xinhua