Qatar has no plans to normalize relations with Syria: Foreign Minister News

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani says the idea of ​​regional unity with Syria is a “desire”.

Qatar is not considering normalizing relations with Syria and expects other countries to refrain from taking further steps with President Bashar al-Assad’s government, Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said.

His remarks at a press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blink in Washington answered a question. visit this week the foreign ministers of the Gulf States of the United Arab Emirates to Damascus.

“It will be desirable for all the countries in the region to be united on the Syrian issue, and we hope that the countries will refrain from taking further steps with the Syrian regime so as not to (aggravate) its misery. The Syrian people, ”Al Thani said on Friday.

“We do not see any serious steps that show the Assad regime’s commitment to repairing the damage it has done to its country and its people,” he added.

Qatar supported the rebels during the Syrian civil war of the decade among the states in the region that was part of Saudi Arabia. Some like the BAC have sought to normalize relations after Assad regained control of most countries.

The UAE was asked earlier this year to re-admit Syria to the Arab League. On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed met with Assad in Damascus on his first visit since the outbreak of the civil war by a senior Emirati dignitary.

Washington, which is opposed to efforts to normalize relations with Assad until progress has been made towards a political solution to the conflict, has said it is concerned about the moves made by the BAC, one of its allies.

In a press conference on Friday, Blinken said the U.S. is concerned “about the signs that some of these visits and commitments are being sent.”

“I would simply ask all our partners to remember the crimes committed by the Assad regime and continue to commit them. We do not support normalization,” he added.

Last month, the Emirati Economy Ministry said it had agreed with its Syrian partner improve trade and economic cooperation.

Ties between the two countries have been slowly revived since the Basque Country reopened its embassy in Damascus at the end of 2018. In March 2019, bin Zayed said the Basque Country intended to “return Syria to the Arab region”.

Last month, al-Assad made a phone call to King Abdullah II of Jordan. Prior to that conversation, a major border crossing between the two countries reopened in September.