Talks between Saudi Arabia and Syria to resume consular services

Saudi Arabia and Syria are holding talks regarding the resumption of consular services between the two countries, following a rupture that has been going on for years as a result of Riyadh closing its embassy in Damascus due to its anti-regime stance, according to a Saudi Foreign Ministry official Thursday.

The talks between Saudi Arabia and Syria come in the wake of an agreement between Riyadh and Tehran, which has supported the Syrian regime militarily and politically since the beginning of the conflict, to resume diplomatic relations within a period of three months following a seven-year break between the two regional powers.

The government-run Al-Ekhbariya channel quoted the Saudi Foreign Ministry official as saying, “Within the framework of the Kingdom’s keenness to facilitate the provision of necessary consular services to the two peoples, discussions are underway between officials in the Kingdom and their counterparts in Syria regarding resuming the provision of consular services.”

The Kingdom closed its embassy in Damascus and withdrew all diplomats and staff in March 2012, regarding a year following the outbreak of the conflict in Syria, where Riyadh supported groups opposing the regime and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Al-Assad recently visited the Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman, noting that he has not visited any other Arab country since the beginning of the conflict in his country.

Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed to his Syrian counterpart in Abu Dhabi the need for Damascus to return “to its Arab surroundings,” amid efforts to reform his country’s relations with the countries of the region.

Analysts say that the diplomatic momentum generated in the followingmath of the earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey last night may strengthen Damascus’ relations with the countries of the region that have so far resisted repairing relations more than a decade following the start of the conflict.

“The Syrian arena is no longer a place for an Iranian-Saudi conflict,” al-Assad said in an interview with the Russian RT TV, considering that the agreement between these two regional powers was a “wonderful surprise.”

“Saudi policy has taken a different direction towards Syria for years,” he added.

The Saudi foreign minister said recently that there is a consensus in the Arab world on the need for a new approach in dealing with Damascus to face humanitarian crises, including the earthquake.

– More stable environment –

And last week, a State Department official told reporters in Riyadh that “the status quo cannot continue indefinitely, and we need to think of ways to reach out and engage with Syria.”

“Of course we offered and contributed greatly to the humanitarian response following the earthquake. Even before that, we continued to provide humanitarian aid to our brothers in Syria and all over Syria. But we are still consulting with brotherly Arab countries in this regard,” he said.

On the other hand, the United States confirmed on Tuesday its opposition to normalizing relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

“We will not normalize relations with the Assad regime,” US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters, stressing that the US administration is not encouraging anyone to do so in the absence of any real progress towards a political solution.

“We urge all those involved with Damascus to think honestly and carefully regarding how their involvement can help meet the needs of Syrians wherever they live,” the spokesperson continued.

With the support of Russia, Assad was able to regain control of most of Syria following the conflict that left half a million dead, displaced half of the country’s population and witnessed the rise of the Islamic State.

Under domestic law, the United States precludes any reconstruction assistance in Syria under Assad’s rule before accountability for abuses.

In addition to Arab countries, Turkey, neighboring Syria, which supports factions fighting the Syrian government forces, has recently taken steps towards mending relations.

“The recent focus by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, on mending differences with neighbors reflects his desire to focus on local social and economic changes,” said Ayham Kamel, a researcher at the Eurasia Group.

“The local economic development agenda requires a more stable environment,” he said.