Putin Sends Message to Jeddah Summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Russian Human Rights ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 15, 2023. (AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Russian Human Rights ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 15, 2023. (AP)
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Putin Sends Message to Jeddah Summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Russian Human Rights ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 15, 2023. (AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Russian Human Rights ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 15, 2023. (AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed on Friday that Moscow was keen on developing friendly relations with Arab countries in order to effectively confront challenges and threats.

In a cable to leaders at the Arab League summit in Jeddah, he stressed that Russia traditionally places “great importance on developing friendly ties and constructive cooperation with the nations of the Middle East and North Africa” in order to respond to threats and challenges facing modern humanity.

“We are determined to continue to support collective efforts to achieve peaceful solutions to severe regional issues, including the crises in Sudan, Yemen, Libya and Syria, while firmly respecting the sovereignty of nations and international law,” he added.

Moreover, Putin said Russia will continue to provide “all possible help to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict according to United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.”



Syrian Air Says It Is Resuming Its Direct Flights to UAE on Sunday

 Travellers are welcomed at Damascus's airport. (AFP file)
Travellers are welcomed at Damascus's airport. (AFP file)
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Syrian Air Says It Is Resuming Its Direct Flights to UAE on Sunday

 Travellers are welcomed at Damascus's airport. (AFP file)
Travellers are welcomed at Damascus's airport. (AFP file)

Syria's flag carrier Syrian Air will resume direct flights to Dubai and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates starting on Sunday, the airline said in a Facebook post.

All flights between Syria and the UAE had been suspended in January after opposition factions toppled former leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

The announcement comes days after the UAE's civil aviation authority announced the resumption of air flights between the Gulf country and Syria. No UAE-based airlines have announced plans to fly to Syria so far.

The resumption of flights between the two countries followed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s first visit to the UAE as leader, where he met UAE's President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.