RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is hosting a regional meeting in Jeddah aimed at ending Syria’s isolation, following the announcement that it will resume relations with Iran. The talks on Friday will be attended by ministers and top officials from nine Arab nations, including Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Syrian Foreign Minister, Faisal Mekdad, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday on a previously unannounced visit, his first since the civil war in Syria began in 2011. Analysts suggest that the flurry of diplomatic activity is a result of Saudi Arabia’s desire to calm the region and focus on diversifying its energy-dependent economy.
On 10 March, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced their intention to resume ties, seven
years after their acrimonious split. On Wednesday, an Iranian delegation
visited Saudi Arabia to pave the way for reopening diplomatic missions,
following a visit by a Saudi team in the opposite direction. The Saudi
ambassador to Yemen also held talks with Iran-backed Houthi rebels aimed at
ending the devastating civil war that began in 2015. Earlier this month, the
Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers pledged to work together to bring “security
and stability” to the region during a meeting in Beijing.
The Syrian conflict has long been a battleground for Saudi Arabia and Iran, with Syria’s
suspension from the Arab League in place since the government’s crackdown on
pro-democracy protests in 2011. The topic of Syria’s return to the Arab League
will be discussed during the Jeddah talks. Saudi Arabia is trying to overcome
Gulf differences over Syria, as much as possible, according to a Riyadh-based
diplomat. While unanimous agreement among the 22-nation Arab League is
unlikely, the Saudi ambassador is attempting to ensure that Qatar, an outspoken
critic of the Assad government, does not object to Syria’s return to the Arab
League if the issue is put to a vote.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan flew to Cairo for talks with Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ahead of the Jeddah meeting. The UAE has led the charge to bring Syria back into the Arab fold, with Sheikh Mohamed stating last month that “the time has come” for Damascus to be reintegrated into the wider region. Although the talks may not result in unanimous agreement, Saudi Arabia’s efforts to calm the region suggest a desire to focus on domestic projects aimed at diversifying its economy. (Courtesy: AFP and Dawn.pk)
 |
| Image Credit: Google |
0 Comments