Saudi Arabia and Syria have taken significant steps toward the resumption of diplomatic relations, as they have agreed upon the diplomats who will be stationed at their respective embassies in Riyadh and Damascus, according to sources cited by the Al-Akhbar newspaper.
"All the necessary procedures for the approval of the diplomats' appointments have been finalized," stated an anonymous source cited by the Al-Akhbar newspaper. According to the sources, it is plausible that Saudi Arabia and Syria will dispatch diplomats to Riyadh and Damascus in the near future, thus reinstating the functioning of their respective embassies.
Saudi Arabia had previously declined to appoint its ambassador to Syria and rejected Damascus's proposed diplomats for assignments at the Syrian embassy in Riyadh, according to Al-Akhbar's claims. This refusal was seen as indicative of the challenges in normalizing relations between the two countries.
Since the start of the Syrian civil war, many Arab nations, having been unsuccessful in obtaining concessions from Damascus in support of the opposition, withdrew their ambassadors and participated in an economic boycott of Syria. During the conflict, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and several other states provided financial and military aid to anti-government militias. While some countries like Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman have reopened their diplomatic missions in Damascus, others have been slow to follow suit. In early May, the Saudi Foreign Ministry announced its decision to reopen its diplomatic mission in Damascus, citing the ongoing normalization of relations between Syria and other Arab nations.
On May 19, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attended the Arab League summit in Jeddah, marking his first attendance since 2010. Shortly before this, the League Council had decided to reinstate Syria's full membership in the regional organization, which had been suspended in November 2011.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Based on materials from TASS