© File/APSyrian Embassy in Tunisia
Syria will reopen its embassy in Tunisia after the
North African country announced the appointment of a new ambassador to Damascus, Syrian state media reported Wednesday.
Tunisia has become the latest Arab state to reestablish diplomatic ties with Syria, after cutting off relations a decade ago.
The move by Tunisian President Kais Saied to appoint a new ambassador was immediately approved and reciprocated by the Syrian government, a joint statement from the two countries' foreign ministries read, according to Syrian state news agency SANA.
The announcement is the latest step in a regional trend of rapprochement with the war-torn country, which has picked up pace since the deadly Feb. 6 earthquake in Syria and Turkey and the Chinese-brokered reestablishment of ties between Saudi Arabia
and Iran.
Syria was widely shunned by Arab governments over Syrian President Bashar Assad's brutal crackdown on protesters and later civilians in an uprising-turned-civil war that began in 2011. The breakdown in relations culminated with Syria being ousted from the Arab League. Tunis shut down its embassy in Damascus in 2012.
Earlier this year, Assad visited Oman and the United Arab Emirates, two nations that had backed fighters trying to topple his government. The Syrian government is reportedly in talks with Saudi Arabia to reopen their embassies in each other's nations.
Saudi Arabia is hosting the next Arab League summit in May, where most states hope to restore Syria's membership, the league's secretary-general, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, has said.
Comment: Meanwhile,
Saudi Arabia is holding talks with Syria with great progress:
Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad has completed a breakthrough visit to Saudi Arabia, the first such trip since Riyadh cut diplomatic relations with Damascus in 2012. In a joint press statement issued after the visit Saudi Arabia endorsed Syrian unity and integrity, condemned terrorism, and backed a political solution to the 12-year war.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud had invited his Syrian colleague to Jeddah to discuss "efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves Syria's unity, security, stability, Arab identity, and territorial integrity while also serving the interests of its brotherly people," according to the statement cited by the state news agencies of both countries.
Prince Faisal and Dr. Mekdad agreed on the need to address humanitarian issues and allow aid "to reach all areas of Syria," establish conditions for the return of refugees and displaced people, and "stabilize the situation in the entire Syrian territories."
The two sides also committed to enhancing security and "combating terrorism in all its forms," and agreed on the need to "support the institutions of the Syrian state to extend its control over its territories to end the presence of armed militias and external interference in the Syrian internal affairs."
Parts of northern Syria are currently under control of Turkish-backed militants, while the area northeast of the Euphrates River is held by US-backed Kurdish militias. Several hundred US troops are also in the country in violation of international law, controlling most of the Syrian oil wells.
The two foreign ministers also discussed steps needed to reach "a comprehensive political settlement of the Syrian crisis," so the country could return to the "Arab fold," their joint statement said.
Damascus and Riyadh have begun the procedures needed to resume air travel and consular services between the two countries, while Syria thanked Saudi Arabia for the humanitarian aid provided after the catastrophic earthquakes in February. Much of the aid to Syria has been impeded by the US-imposed 'Caesar' sanctions against Damascus.
Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Syria in February 2012, joining the US in backing the militants that sought to overthrow President Bashar Assad. With the backing of Russia and Iran, the government in Damascus eventually prevailed over the collection of rebel militias that included terrorists affiliated with Al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS).
Rumors that Riyadh was preparing to reverse course began to circulate last month, shortly after China mediated an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to normalize relations. Since then, the kingdom has also launched peace talks to end the eight-year conflict in Yemen.
Comment: Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is holding talks with Syria with great progress: