Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held talks within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday, his workplace stated. This was his first official go to to an Arab nation for the reason that Syrian civil conflict erupted in 2011.
Assad’s solely journeys exterior Syria through the conflict have been to Iran and Russia. Each nations have been key supporters of his regime.
Through the one-day go to, Assad met with the UAE’s de facto ruler and the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
The 2 sides mentioned “fraternal relations” between their international locations, Emirati state information company WAM reported.
What did the leaders say?
Sheikh Mohammed “pressured that Syria is a elementary pillar of Arab safety and that the UAE is eager to strengthen cooperation with it,” WAM reported.
He hoped Assad’s go to would “pave the way in which for goodness, peace and stability to prevail in Syria and your complete area, it added.
The Syrian president additionally held a gathering with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vp and prime minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai.
Assad pressured the UAE’s position within the area through the conferences, in accordance with the state-run Syrian Information Company (SANA).
“Due to this fact, to guard our area we should proceed to stick to our ideas, the sovereignty of our international locations and the pursuits of our individuals,” he stated.
Bashar al-Assad (L) additionally met with the vp and prime minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai (R)
Syria revives relations with Arab states
A number of Arab international locations have been reviving their ties with Damascus, suggesting an effort to convey Syria again into the Arab fold.
The UAE, a US-allied nation, had damaged ties with Syria in February 2012 and later backed rebels who sought Assad’s ouster.
It reopened its embassy in Damascus in December 2018, and in March 2021, known as for Syria’s return to the Arab League.
In November, UAE’s overseas minister met Assad within the Syrian capital for the primary time for the reason that civil conflict started.
How did the US reply?
The go to drew a pointy rebuke from Washington, which stated it opposed efforts to normalise ties or rehabilitate Assad.
The US State Division added it was “profoundly disenchanted and troubled” by what it known as an obvious try to legitimize Assad.
“We urge states contemplating engagement with the Assad regime to weigh rigorously the horrific atrocities visited by the regime on the Syrians over the past decade,” State Division spokesperson Ned Worth stated in an announcement.
The timing of Assad’s go to coincided with the eleventh anniversary of the anti-government rebellion in Syria.
adi/jcg (AFP, Reuters, dpa)