DAMASCUS (Dispatches) – Bouthaina Shaaban, the special adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has affirmed her country’s openness to relations with all Arab countries, noting that Damascus “has long enjoyed excellent relations with Arab countries”.
Speaking to Russia Today, Shabaan said that despite everything that has happened during the Syrian crisis, “Syrian President Bashar al-Assad still believes in good relations with Arab countries, given that the Arabs’ fate is one.”
Earlier this month, media outlets reported that Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan may visit Damascus, but an informed source told RT Arabia that there is no talk in Damascus about such a visit.
Saudi Arabia sent humanitarian aid to those affected by the devastating earthquake that hit Syria in February, and a Saudi plane loaded with food aid landed at Aleppo airport last month for the first time since diplomatic relations between the two countries were cut off due to the start of the foreign-backed conflict in Syria in 2011.
The comments come as high-profile Arab lawmakers arrived in Damascus on Sunday amid attempts by certain countries, above all Iraq, to restore Syria’s membership in the Arab League, more than a decade after it was suspended from the 22-member bloc.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry also arrived in Damascus on Monday in the first such visit by a top Egyptian diplomat since the foreign-sponsored militancy erupted in Syria more than a decade ago.
In a meeting with President Assad, the top Egyptian diplomat reaffirmed his country’s solidarity with Syria and its preparedness to continue supporting Syrians in the aftermath of the devastating February earthquake.
In a meeting with the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union, Assad said, “The delegation’s visit to Syria today means a lot to the Syrian people as it indicates the support to the Syrians ... who are exposed as a result of the terrorist war and the repercussions of the earthquake.”
According to the latest figures, more than 50,000 were killed by the disastrous earthquake that hit Turkey and neighboring earlier this month.
Syrian foreign minister has denounced the politicization of humanitarian response to the devastating earthquake, saying it failed to prick the conscience of some countries who pretend to advocate human rights.
Faisal Mekdad made the remarks in a video speech to the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council on Thursday as Syria continues to grapple with the aftermath of the earthquake.