Saudi foreign minister arrives in Damascus, holds talks with Assad: Reports

Syrian President Bashar Al Assad received Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan in Damascus on Tuesday, Syrian state media reported.

Bin Farhan landed earlier on Tuesday for the first visit of a top Saudi diplomat to Damascus since 2011.

Syria's state news agency said Bin Farhan met with Assad but did not immediately provide further details.

The Saudi foreign ministry said in an online statement that the visit showed the kingdom's desire to find a political solution to Syria's conflict that would preserve the country's "Arab identity, and return it to its Arab surroundings".

The two sides agreed to resume diplomatic ties, and media reported this month that Bin Farhan would travel to Damascus to invite Assad to the Arab League's next summit in Riyadh on May 19, two sources familiar with the plans said.

Saudi Arabia hosted Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad last week and then held a meeting in Jeddah of foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council as well as Egypt, Jordan and Iraq to discuss Syria's possible return to the Arab fold.

Reuters