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Meeting in Riyadh to Enhance Support for the Syrian People
On Sunday, an event commenced in Riyadh for the foreign ministers of Arab countries, with the participation of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, as part of efforts to strengthen Arab support for the Syrian people following the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
The meeting is divided into two parts: the first is dedicated to Arab ministers, while the second includes representatives from Western countries, including France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and Spain, in addition to the UN envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaia Kallas, and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, John Bass.
Asaad al-Shibani, the Syrian Foreign Minister, and Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, along with foreign ministers from Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon, arrived at King Khalid International Airport yesterday evening, along with the Turkish minister.
These meetings are a continuation of the previous meeting held in Aqaba, Jordan, last month, where the ministerial contact committee affirmed its "commitment to supporting the Syrian people to rebuild their country and ensure its stability, security, and unity."
The importance of supporting a peaceful transitional political process that includes all Syrian factions under the auspices of the United Nations and the Arab League was also discussed.
Syria and the new administration face numerous challenges, including lifting Western sanctions, organizing armed factions, holding a national dialogue conference, drafting a new constitution, and preparing for elections.
It is worth noting that Western powers, including the United States and the European Union, imposed sanctions on the Assad government as a result of its crackdown on popular protests that began in 2011, which led to a prolonged conflict lasting over 13 years, resulting in the deaths of more than half a million people, the destruction of the economy, and the displacement of millions.
