Saudi FM Says Arab States Need New Syria Approach

Consensus is building in the Arab world that isolating Syria is not working and that dialogue with Damascus is needed “at some point,” Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said at the Munich Security Conference on February 18.

“You will see not just among the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] but in the Arab world there is a consensus growing that the status quo is not workable,” the minister said, signaling a shift from the kingdom’s previous stance on Syria

Saudi Arabia played a key role in financing and arming rebels early on in the war. However, the kingdom adopted a more pragmatic approach in later years despite pressure from its main ally, the United States.

Prince Faisal said that without a path towards “maximalist goals” for a political solution, another approach was “being formulated” to address the issue of Syrian refugees in neighboring states and suffering of civilians, especially after the earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey.

Saudi Arabia sent three shipments of aid to the government-held Syrian city of Aleppo, which was badly affected by the devastating earthquake.

“So that’s going to have to go through a dialogue with the government in Damascus at some point in a way that achieves at least the most important of the objectives especially as regards the humanitarian angle, the return of refugees, etc,” he said.

When asked about recent reports that he would pay a visit to Damascus, the minister said he would not comment on “rumors”.

A recent report by the Syrian daily Al-Watan revealed that the United Arab Emirates, who restored its own ties with Damascus some four years ago, had been making efforts to fully restore Saudi-Syrian relations.

Prince Faisal’s remarks confirm that Saudi Arabia is at least interested in restoring relations with Damascus. While the minister cited humanitarian issues as the main motive, Riyadh may be looking to achieve more important goals like limiting Iran’s influence in Syria.

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