Syrian president receives UAE foreign minister in Damascus
Sheikh Abdullah with Bashar Al Assad in Damascus.
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad received the UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed in Damascus on Tuesday, Syrian state media said.
Sheikh Abdullah is the most senior Emirati dignitary to visit Syria in the decade since the eruption of a civil war.
The UAE foreign minister arrived with a senior delegation, according to Syrian state news.
Its correspondent said heavy security had been observed on the road from Damascus airport to the city.
Talks during the meeting dealt with bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and the development of bilateral cooperation in various fields of common interest, in addition to intensifying the efforts to find new aspects for this cooperation, particularly in vital sectors to boost investment partnerships in these sectors.
Assad affirmed the strong brotherly relations between Syria and the UAE since the time of late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
President Assad hailed the objective and correct stances adopted by the UAE, stressing that it has always stood by the Syrian people .
Sheikh Abdullah Al Nahyan, for his part, affirmed the UAE’s support for stability efforts in Syria, considering that what has happened in Syria had affected all the Arab countries.
He was confident that Syria, under the leadership of Assad, and the efforts of its people, is able to overcome the challenges imposed by the war, noting that his country is always ready to offer assistance to the Syrian people.
The discussions also tackled the situations in the Arab and regional areas. The two sides agreed to continue consultation and coordination about different issues and challenges that face the Arab region to achieve aspirations of its people through their will away from any external intervention.
Syrian newspaper Al Watan cited unofficial media sources "talking about" his arrival.
The UAE has been at the forefront of efforts by some Arab states to normalise ties with Damascus , and earlier this year called for Syria to be readmitted to the Arab League.
The UAE reopened its embassy in Damascus three years ago.
Last month, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, reviewed with the Assad, the relations between the two fraternal nations and prospects of advancing cooperation across various fields.
This came in a phone call Sheikh Mohamed received from the Syrian president where they also discussed the ongoing developments in Syria and the Middle East in addition to issues of regional and international interest.
Agencies
