Oman stood by Damascus in fight against terrorism: Top Syrian diplomat

Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Mekdad has lauded his country’s cordial diplomatic ties with Oman, saying the Persian Gulf kingdom has supported the Damascus government in the fight against terrorism ever since Syrian crisis broke out more than a decade ago.

“We earlier met our Omani brethren in Muscat, and are now receiving them with open arms here in Damascus… Bilateral relations between our countries continue and have never broken off. Syria sees no limits to the expansion of friendly ties with Oman,” Mekdad said in a meeting with his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood al-Busaidi, in Damascus on Monday.

He underscored that Oman has stood by Syria in the fight against foreign-sponsored Takfiri terrorist groups, and is working towards formation of a consensus that would restore the latter’s position in the Arab world and unlock its potentials.

Busaidi, for his part, said, “I am very happy to be in Damascus, as Syria is the cornerstone of the joint Arab action… We welcome consultations and dialogue with our Syrian brethren on common areas of interest and concern.”

The top Omani diplomat added, “We look forward to exchanging viewpoints with our Syrian counterparts within the framework of developing bilateral ties in all economic, commercial and scientific spheres.”

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“All Arab authorities hope for meetings with Syrian officials and greater unity in the Arab world. All of our endeavors are, therefore, meant to attain such an ideal,” Busaidi said.

Last March, Mekdad made an official visit to Oman where he met with his counterpart in Muscat. He also met with Omani Minister of the Royal Office Sultan bin Mohammed al-Nu'amani in Muscat.

Speaking in an interview with the official Oman News Agency at the time, Mekdad praised Muscat’s “balanced, calm and responsible policy” and its efforts in working to restore stability in Syria.

“We are fighting terrorism and extremism, and we are working against unilateral coercive measures.. Brothers in Oman have been standing by the Syrian people from the beginning of this war on terror until this moment,” he said in a press statement.

Oman was one of the few Arab states to maintain diplomatic ties with Damascus after the breakout of the Syrian conflict in March 2011, in spite of pressure from the United States and other Persian Gulf allies.

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The Jordanian palace said the two leaders “discussed relations between the two brotherly countries and ways of enhancing cooperation.”

The country was also the first Persian Gulf state to reinstate its envoy to Syria in November 2020.

Deceased Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem accepted the credentials of Oman’s Ambassador Turki bin Mahmood al-Busaidy, appointed to the post by royal decree in March that year.

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