RIYADH/BEIRUT: Saudi Arabia is planning to invite Syrian President Bashar al Assad to an Arab League summit that Riyadh is hosting in May, three sources familiar with the plans said.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan will travel to Damascus in coming weeks to hand Assad a formal invitation to attend the summit scheduled for May 19, two of the sources said.
Assad’s attendance at an Arab League summit would mark the most significant development in his rehabilitation within the Arab world since 2011.
Syria’s return to the 22-member body would reflect a change in the regional approach towards the Syrian conflict.
Last month sources said Riyadh and Damascus had reached an agreement to reopen their embassies after the holy month of Ramadhan. The Saudi foreign ministry did not confirm an agreement was reached but said it was in talks with the Syrian foreign ministry to resume consular services.
It is said that discussions have been ongoing for more than a year over a list of demands from Saudi Arabia for the Syrian government to meet as a condition to mend ties. Initial discussions for a visit by Prince Faisal to Damascus or by Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to Riyadh were postponed because of the earthquakes that hit Turkiye and Syria in February.
Arab League heavyweight Egypt has also resumed contacts with Assad. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on Saturday during the first official visit by a Syrian foreign minister to Cairo in over a decade.
An Egyptian security source said that the visit was aimed at putting in place steps for Syria’s return to the Arab League through Egyptian and Saudi mediation.
Contacts between Saudi and Syrian officials gathered momentum following a landmark agreement in March between Saudi Arabia and Iran, to re-establish ties.
The rapprochement between Riyadh and Tehran is part of major regional realignment. — Reuters
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