Assad meets Saudi delegation points to reopening of embassy
The delegation led by intelligence chief Khalid Al-Humaidan. The official representation was closed in 2012. The reopening perhaps after Eid al-Fitr. New meetings are expected between the parties in the coming weeks. Middle Eastern diplomacy is moving from Riyadh to Tehran.
Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - After reactivating diplomatic channels with Iran, Riyadh has recently initiated direct contact with the Syrian leadership to reopen the Saudi embassy in Damascus, closed during the war.
Sources speaking to the independent Saudi daily Rai Al-Youm, say the Wahhabi kingdom wants to "restore diplomatic relations" between the two nations in an attempt to ease (part of) the tensions that are lacerating the Middle East region.
Yesterday some senior Saudi officials met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, in an attempt to re-establish diplomatic relations that had been interrupted for at least a decade. Overnight news some sites and social pages close to the Syrian leadership reported that the Riyadh delegation was led by intelligence chief Khalid Al-Humaidan.
The meeting was also attended by the head of Syrian security services Ali Mamlouk. In the event of a positive turnaround in the negotiations, plans include the reopening of the Saudi diplomatic representation in Damascus after the feast of Eid Al-Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of Islamic fasting and prayer.
The newspaper, published in London, also reports that the components of the diplomatic mission are expected to return to Syria in the coming weeks for further negotiations.
The Saudi embassy in Syria closed its doors in 2012, just over a year after the start of the conflict and has always supported the rebel and jihadist groups who tried - in vain - to overthrow President Assad. A position that has united the nations of the Gulf, with Saudi Arabia and Qatar at the forefront, which have provided weapons and support in terms of intelligence and logistics.
Since the news was published, Syria and Saudi Arabia have neither confirmed nor denied yesterday’s meeting. A further step in diplomatic activism in the Riyadh region, as confirmed in a recent interview with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (Mbs) who called for a resumption of dialogue with Tehran. An invitation readily accepted by the Iranians.
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