Arab states need new approach towards Syria: Saudi FM

Arab states need new approach towards Syria: Saudi FM

Published February 19,2023


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Saudi Arabia‘s international minister mentioned consensus was constructing within the Arab world that isolating Syria was not working and that dialogue with Damascus was wanted “at some point” to no less than handle humanitarian points, together with a return of refugees.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud‘s remarks at a Munich safety discussion board on Saturday mark a shift from the early years of Syria’s 12-year civil warfare when a number of Arab states together with Saudi Arabia backed rebels that fought Bashar al-Assad.

“You will see not just among the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) but in the Arab world there is a consensus growing that the status quo is not workable,” he mentioned.

The minister mentioned and not using a path in the direction of “maximalist goals” for a political answer, one other strategy was “being formulated” to deal with the problem of Syrian refugees in neighbouring states and struggling of civilians, particularly after the devastating earthquake that hit Syria and Türkiye.

“So that’s going to have to go through a dialogue with the government in Damascus at some point in a way that achieves at least the most important of the objectives especially as regards the humanitarian angle, the return of refugees, etc,” he mentioned.

Asked about experiences that he would go to Damascus following visits by his Emirati and Jordanian counterparts after the earthquake, Prince Faisal mentioned he wouldn’t touch upon rumours.

Riyadh has despatched support planes to government-held territory in Syria as a part of earthquake reduction efforts after initially sending support solely to the nation’s opposition-held northwest.

Shunned by the West, Assad has been basking in an outpouring of assist from Arab states that normalised ties with him in recent times, notably the United Arab Emirates which goals for Arab affect in Syria to counter that of Iran.

Other Arab states stay cautious and U.S. sanctions on Syria stay a complicating issue.

Kuwait’s international minister advised Reuters in Munich his nation was not coping with Damascus and was offering support by worldwide organisations and Turkey.

Asked if this stance would change, Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah mentioned: “We are not going to change at this point in time.”

Assad has recovered management of most of Syria with assist from Russia together with Iran and Iranian-backed Sh’ite Muslim teams comparable to Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Source: www.anews.com.tr