UAE FM Visits Syria's President Assad

The Syrian Presidency announced that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad welcomed the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has arrived in Syrian Capital Damascus on Tuesday.   

The Syrian Presidency official Twitter account reported that the UAE delegation included UAE Minister of State and ex-UAE ambassador to the Syrian Arab Republic, Khalifa Shaheen, and Head of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Ports Security, Ali Mohammed bin Hammad al-Shamsi.

In the meeting, "bilateral relations between the two brotherly nations" were discussed, as well as developing bilateral cooperation in various fields of mutual interest and intensifying efforts in exploring new horizons for this cooperation, especially in vital sectors so that investment ventures could be strengthened in them.

President Assad affirmed the "close fraternal relations between the two countries since the days of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan," praising "the objective and righteous positions of the UAE," stressing that "it has always stood by the Syrian people."

On his part, the Foreign Minister stressed that "UAE supports stability efforts in Syria," considering that what had happened in Syria affected all Arab countries. He also expressed his confidence that Syria and its leadership, as well as its people's steadfastness and resilience, are capable of surpassing the challenges imposed by war.

Informed sources stated that the Emirati delegation discussed the return of Syria to the Arab League.

It is worth noting that this visit is the first of its kind since the war on Syria in 2011.

Later on, Jordan's Ammon reported that the UAE Foreign Minister will arrive in Amman on Tuesday after his visit to Damascus, at the head of the delegation.

Ammon added that bin Zayed, in the forthcoming visit, will meet with the Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs, Ayman al-Safadi.

On October 20, Syria's SANA reported that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad spoke to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan over the phone, and they discussed the latest developments in the regional and international arenas.

Last March, the UAE Foreign Minister said that "Syria's return to its Arab surroundings is inevitable, and it is in the interest of Syria and the region as a whole."