Saudi Deputy Governor of the Riyadh region, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, welcomed the then President of Syria, Bashar al-Assad, upon his arrival in Riyadh on November 11, ahead of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League joint extraordinary leaders summit. This event marked a significant moment in regional diplomacy.
Saudi Arabia has been actively engaging with all regional actors concerning Syria and is resolute in its efforts to prevent chaos following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, according to a Saudi official. 'We are in constant communication with Turkey and every stakeholder involved,' the official told Reuters, noting that the kingdom was unaware of Assad's current location. The official attributed Assad's downfall to his failure to re-engage with several regional actors and the opposition.
'The Turkish government attempted to engage and coordinate with the Syrian government, but these overtures were met with refusal,' the official stated. 'The current situation is a direct consequence of the Syrian government's lack of engagement in the political process. This outcome reflects the inevitable result of such intransigence.'
Assad's visit to Saudi Arabia in 2023 for an Arab League summit, after a 12-year hiatus, where he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was seen as an opportunity to encourage more constructive engagement from the Syrian government. 'The hope was that this move would influence the Syrian government to engage more constructively with the opposition and the various stakeholders within Syria and in the region, rather than allowing the existing stalemate and fragile peace to be taken for granted,' the official explained. 'We emphasised that the situation should not be underestimated, as it remained precarious. Unfortunately, this message did not result in any meaningful action from the Syrian side.'
The official highlighted some positive developments in Syria, expressing hope that they would continue. 'Notably, the transition has occurred without bloodshed, which is encouraging. Additionally, we appreciate the statements from various stakeholders emphasizing the importance of protecting state institutions, the sovereignty of Syria, and the rights of minority groups,' he said. 'We hope to see these positive trends continue and are committed to doing everything we can to maintain this momentum.'
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