Saudi Foreign Ministry: Saudi Arabia and Syria are in discussions to reestablish consular services
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Hashim Sheikh
- . March 24, 2023
- . Update: March 24, 2023 9:28 pm
According to Al-Ekhbariya News on Thursday, negotiations are underway between Saudi Arabia and Syria to restore consular exchanges.
The TV station quoted a Saudi foreign ministry official as saying, “Discussions are continuing with officials in Syria to restore consular services, within the framework of the Kingdom’s keenness to ease the provision of necessary consular services between the two nations.”
The remark, according to the source from the foreign ministry, was made in response to earlier on Thursday stories from international media, the article continued.
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The action follows a decision made earlier this month by Saudi Arabia and Iran to restart diplomatic ties and reopen embassies in both nations as a result of a deal mediated by China.
In a phone chat on Wednesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed setting up a bilateral meeting soon with his Iranian counterpart, Hussein Amir Abdollahian.
On February 19, Prince Faisal stated that there was growing agreement among Arab nations that isolating Syria was “not workable.” He also stated that discussion with Damascus was required “at some point,” at least in reference to the “humanitarian viewpoint.”
He said that it was “too early to talk” on March 8 that engagement with Syria would eventually result in its admission back into the Arab League.
