UAE FM visit signals Arab world willing to engage with Syria

DAMASCUS, Syria — The overseas curate of the United Arab Emirates met with Syria’s erstwhile wide shunned president successful Damascus connected Tuesday, sending the strongest awesome yet that the Arab satellite is consenting to re-engage with strongman Bashar Assad.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s sojourn is the archetypal by a UAE overseas curate since Syria’s struggle began a decennary agone and comes arsenic immoderate Arab countries are improving relations with Syria. The UAE has been dilatory mending ties with Damascus, arsenic the tide of the warfare has turned successful favour of Assad.

Syria has been expelled from the 22-member Arab League and boycotted by its neighbors since its civilian warfare erupted successful 2011. However, betterment of relations betwixt Syria and oil-rich Arab countries could beryllium a large boost for post-war reconstruction.

Syria’s struggle began successful March 2011. It has killed much than 400,000 radical and displaced fractional the country’s population. Large parts of the state are destroyed and reconstruction would outgo tens of billions of dollars.

Sheikh Abdullah was heading a ample delegation, according to Syrian authorities TV. The overseas curate was earlier successful the Mediterranean land of Cyprus, wherever helium met with apical officials.

The 2 sides discussed ways of processing practice arsenic good arsenic concern opportunities, according to Assad’s office.

Last month, the UAE’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed received a telephone telephone from Assad successful which they discussed strengthening relations and cooperation.

The UAE reopened its embassy successful Damascus successful December 2018 but relations remained acold since then.

In September, Assad called King Abdullah II of Jordan for the archetypal clip since Syria’s struggle began successful March 2011. The 2 countries besides reopened a large borderline crossing betwixt them.

The UAE was a protagonist of the Syrian opposition, which is present mostly confined to a tiny country successful northwest Syria aft Assad’s forces gained power of overmuch of Syria successful caller years.