Oman's Foreign Minister: "We Will Not Normalize Ties with "Israel""

By Al Maydeen net
Source: Asharq Al-Awsat
10 Jul 2021 15:57

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi affirms his country's firm position on the Palestinian cause, and its refusal to sign a treaty with "Israel," stressing Iran's "supportive role for efforts to achieve peace and stability."

Oman's Foreign Minister denied the possibility of Oman being the third Gulf country to normalize its relations with "Israel"

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi stressed his country's support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, and clarified that it supports "the realization of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace on the basis of a two-state solution."

Simultaneously, he denied the possibility of Oman being the third Gulf country, after the UAE and Bahrain, to normalize its relations with "Israel".

Al-Busaidi affirmed his country's support for Syria's return to the League of Arab States, calling for the resumption of fraternal relations, and the refinement of the atmosphere between Arab states at all times and circumstances.

Al-Busaidi's statements came in the context of an interview with the Saudi newspaper, "Asharq Al-Awsat".

Oman’s position on Syria, which is distinct from the rest of the Gulf States, is not new. The Sultan of Oman was the only Gulf leader to congratulate Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, after his victory in the presidential elections in late May.

Last March, Muscat also received the Syrian Foreign Minister, Faisal Mekdad.

Concerning the Saudi war on Yemen, Al-Busaidi denied the existence of an Omani initiative to resolve the Yemeni crisis, despite the suggestion's circulation after a delegation from his country visited Sana'a last month.

The foreign minister said that efforts to reconcile all parties exist, explaining that "the most prominent steps in the way to resolve the crisis is represented in the unlimited support for the efforts made in this regard, both within the framework of the efforts of the United Nations through the envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, and our permanent coordination with him and the American envoy as well.”

In his assessment of the Iranian role, Al-Busaidi commented, "We believe that the Iranian role is supportive of efforts to achieve the peace and stability we seek."

He expected a change in Iranian behavior in the region after the election of President Ebrahim Raisi, as he said, "Every behavior is subject to change and development if the convictions and political will to do so are available collectively and reciprocally through dialogue and understanding."