Saudi Arabia hosts expanded Arab meeting on Syria

CAIRO

Saudi Arabia hosted an expanded Arab ministerial meeting on Syria on Sunday following last month’s fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

The meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon as well as Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi.

The meeting was followed by another meeting attended by the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Britain, and Germany and the deputy foreign ministers of the US and Italy.

Addressing the meeting, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani emphasized his country’s support for Syria’s unity.

He said Qatar supports the Syrian people "at this critical stage to rebuild their homeland and restore the unity of its territories," according to a statement released by the Qatari Foreign Ministry.

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan highlighted the importance of solidarity “among all segments of the Syrian people to build a united, stable, and secure Syria free from terrorism and exclusion.”

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi, for his part, said the meeting “reflects the positive spirit of collective cooperation and shared responsibility in supporting Syria and fostering peace and stability in the region."

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelattty reaffirmed Egypt's “full support for the brotherly Syrian people and their legitimate aspirations," according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

Abdelatty also called for "a comprehensive political process to reflect Syria's societal, religious, sectarian, and ethnic diversity, and for Syria to become a source of stability in the region."

The Riyadh meetings build on the outcomes of the Aqaba meetings held in Jordan on Dec. 14, 2024. These meetings emphasized support for the Syrian people and pledged to provide all possible assistance to ensure security and stability in the country.

Assad, Syria's leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party's decades-long regime.

The takeover came after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters captured key cities in a lightning offensive that lasted less than two weeks.

A new administration led by Ahmed al-Sharaa has now taken control of the country.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi in Ankara