Jordanian, Qatari envoys hold talks in Syria

DAMASCUS: Syria's new leader Ahmed al Sharaa held talks on Monday with senior Arab diplomats expressing support for the Syrian people and discussing future cooperation, in the latest high-profile visits since Bashar al Assad's overthrow. Sharaa has welcomed envoys from the Middle East and beyond in recent days, including Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday.

Visiting Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi expressed his country's support for Syria's reconstruction in a meeting with Sharaa on Monday, in the first trip to Syria by a senior Jordanian official since Assad was toppled. Images released by the foreign ministry showed the pair shaking hands, while Jordan's official Al Mamlaka TV reported that Safadi had discussed avenues of cooperation, including in the areas of trade, border management, aid and electricity connections, along with security. Safadi expressed support for "a government that represents all spectrums in Syria", as well as for "the drafting of a new constitution", according to Al Mamlaka. "We agree to support the Syrian people in rebuilding their state," he was quoted as saying, adding that "the Arab countries agree to support Syria at this stage without any external interference".

Also in Damascus on Monday was Qatar's minister of state at the foreign ministry, Mohammed al Khulaifi, leading the "first high-level Qatari delegation" to Damascus "after 13 years of diplomatic rupture", his ministry said. "This visit reaffirms the strong fraternal ties" between Qatar and Syria, and underscored Doha's "unwavering commitment to supporting and assisting the Syrian people in their quest for progress, while preserving Syria's sovereignty", the foreign ministry statement added. Khulaifi arrived in Damascus aboard "the first Qatar Airways plane to land at the Syrian airport" since Assad's ouster, foreign ministry spokesman Majed al Ansari wrote on X. A Qatari official said that "a technical aviation team" accompanied the delegation "to assess the readiness of Damascus airport to resume operations". "Qatar has offered to provide technical support for the resumption of commercial and cargo flights, as well as ensure the airport's maintenance during the transitional phase," the official added. During his meeting with visiting Lebanese Druze chiefs Walid and Taymur Jumblatt, Sharaa said Syria would no longer engage in "negative interference in Lebanon at all". Syria "will stay at equal distance from all" in Lebanon, Sharaa added, acknowledging that Syria has been a "source of fear and anxiety" for its neighbour.

Global powers including the United States and the European Union have stepped up contacts with the war-ravaged country's new leaders, urging them to guarantee protections for women and minorities. — AFP