Saudi Foreign Minister to land in Damascus today

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Apr 2023 15:33
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Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan is set to land in Damascus today to meet President Bashar Al-Assad, as per the Syrian Information Ministry.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah meets with Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Mekdad in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 12, 2023. (Reuters)

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Damascus reported that Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan will arrive in Damascus today to meet President Bashar Al-Assad.

"Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan is arriving at Damascus international airport today on an official visit to Syria," the Syrian information ministry said in a statement.

This is happening less than a week after Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad visited Saudi Arabia, also on the first such trip since the outbreak of the war on Syria.

The two top diplomats held a session of talks on efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the unity, security, and stability of Syria. They also discussed "facilitating the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland, and securing humanitarian access to the affected areas in Syria."

A flurry of diplomatic activity has commenced in the last week amid regional relations shift in the aftermath of a decision by Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore ties.

Concurrently, nine Arab countries gathered in Jeddah to discuss Syria's possible return to the 22-member Arab League after Damascus' membership was suspended in 2011.

Over the past few months, there has been increasing engagement with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

The Syrian President has visited the UAE and Oman this year, and last month Saudi Arabia said it has started talks with Damascus about resuming consular services.

Last week, CNN reported that CIA director William Burns made an unannounced visit to Saudi Arabia to express his frustration with the Saudis, according to people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reported. He told Saudi Prince Mohammad bin Salman that the US has felt blindsided by Riyadh’s rapprochement with Iran and Syria under the auspices of Washington’s global rivals.

The Wall Street Journal cited sources familiar with the matter as saying that Burns expressed frustration with the Saudis and told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman that the US has felt blindsided by Riyadh’s rapprochement with Iran and Syria under the auspices of Washington’s global rivals.