Jordan’s international minister has held talks with Syria’s de facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus as regional leaders transfer to interact with the brand new administration following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad two weeks in the past.
“We stand by our Syrian brothers as they begin the rebuilding course of,” Ayman Safadi advised Al Jazeera on Monday.
“We wish a secure, safe, secure Syria that ensures the rights of its individuals via a transitional course of per the aspirations of Syrian individuals,” Safadi added.
Mohammed al-Khulaifi, minister of state at Qatar’s Ministry of International Affairs, additionally arrived within the Syrian capital, days after Doha opened its embassy in Damascus after 13 years.
Qatar’s International Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari stated al-Khulaifi will maintain a sequence of conferences with Syrian officers “to embody Qatar’s agency place in offering all of the help to the Syrian individuals”.
Monday’s high-profile diplomatic go to got here a day after Turkiye’sr international minister promised assist with the political transition and rebuilding the war-torn nation after assembly the brand new administration.
Hakan Fidan and al-Sharaa on Sunday confused the necessity for unity and stability in Syria, as they referred to as for the lifting of all worldwide sanctions in opposition to the war-ravaged nation.
Turkiye backed the Syrian opposition fighters led by al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which spearheaded the offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad’s 54-year rule.
Safadi additionally identified that the safety and stability of Syria are key to Jordan and the area.
“We share a 375km [230-mile] border with Syria. We wish that border to be secure, free from terrorist organisations, free from medication and weapon smuggling,” he advised Al Jazeera.
In recent times, Jordan has tightened border controls in a crackdown on drug and weapon smuggling alongside its border with Syria. One of many fundamental medication smuggled is the amphetamine-like stimulant Captagon, for which there’s large demand within the oil-rich Gulf.
“We’re understanding the challenges and mentioned the safety of our frequent border with Mr Sharaa at this time,” Safadi stated.
The Jordanian international minister additionally condemned Israel’s assaults on Syria in latest days and stated, “It’s an encroachment of Syria’s sovereignty.”
“Israel ought to withdraw from Syrian territory respecting the 1974 settlement,” he added.
Jordan additionally hosted a summit earlier this month the place high Arab, Turkish, EU and US diplomats and referred to as for an inclusive and peaceable transition after greater than a decade of conflict.
Reporting from Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra stated the brand new authorities in Syria are looking forward to extra recognition from neighbouring nations.
“So far as [the meeting with] Jordan is anxious, that is going to be a major increase for al-Sharaa. He desires to construct bridges with Jordan. There are lots of tribal connections alongside the border between Jordan and Syria,” Ahelbarra stated.
Jordan additionally hosted a whole lot of 1000’s of Syrian refugees, a few of whom have returned dwelling after al-Assad’s fall. Jordan claims it hosts some 1.3 million refugees however the United Nations says 680,000 Syrian refugees had been registered with it.
Al-Sharaa has hosted Arab, in addition to Western diplomats, as he goals for formal diplomatic recognition.
Al Jazeera’s Ahebarra famous that al-Sharaa met Turkiye’s international minister yesterday and later met with a high adviser of Saudi Arabia’s king, to debate the way forward for Syria.
Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia is anticipated to ship a delegation quickly, in line with Syria’s ambassador in Riyadh.
Apart from neighbouring Arab nations, al-Sharaa has additionally obtained a number of international delegations since coming to energy.
On Friday, the US’s high diplomat for the Center East, Barbara Leaf, had a gathering with Syria’s de facto chief. Leaf stated she anticipated Syria would fully finish any position for Iran in its affairs. A handful of European delegations have additionally visited in latest days.
Sultan Barakat, from the Hamad bin Khalifa College based mostly in Doha, advised Al Jazeera: “I feel the Jordanians, in addition to the neighbouring nations, have been inspired by Individuals visiting [Syria] first … Virtually all of the regional forces, other than Iran are very joyful the regime change has taken place.”
“They perceive the Syrian individuals have been struggling for over 50 years, notably the final 13 years it has induced a variety of instability within the area. So everyone seems to be welcoming the steadiness in Syria,” he stated.
Individually, on Monday, Iran affirmed its help for Syria’s sovereignty and stated the nation shouldn’t turn into “a haven for terrorism” after the autumn of President al-Assad, whom Tehran backed militarily.
“Our principled place on Syria may be very clear: preserving the sovereignty and integrity of Syria and for the individuals of Syria to determine on its future with out harmful international interference,” Iranian Ministry of International Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated in a weekly information briefing.
