Gulf Countries Call for ‘Reconsidering’ Sanctions on Syria

Kuwait's Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali al-Yahya (L), Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (C) and Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi (R) attend a press conference after their meeting in Damascus, Syria, 30 December 2024. (EPA)
Kuwait's Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali al-Yahya (L), Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (C) and Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi (R) attend a press conference after their meeting in Damascus, Syria, 30 December 2024. (EPA)
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Gulf Countries Call for ‘Reconsidering’ Sanctions on Syria

Kuwait's Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali al-Yahya (L), Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (C) and Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi (R) attend a press conference after their meeting in Damascus, Syria, 30 December 2024. (EPA)
Kuwait's Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali al-Yahya (L), Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (C) and Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi (R) attend a press conference after their meeting in Damascus, Syria, 30 December 2024. (EPA)

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya called from Damascus on Monday for lifting international sanctions off Syria following the downfall of Bashar al-Assad.

He and Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi met with head of the new Syrian administration Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani.

The GCC countries stand in solidarity with Syria and are committed to its security and territorial integrity, he added, calling on the international community to "reconsider" sanctions in it.

He also said Kuwait's leadership also appealed for aid to be sent to Syria urgently.

"The visit expresses our keenness on opening a new page of regional cooperation...we also value the responsiveness of the new administration in Syria to these efforts," he said.

Shibani urged Kuwait to reopen its embassy in Damascus and resume relations with Syria.

"We call with all love and joy on brothers in Kuwait to open their embassy in Damascus and resume diplomatic relations very soon," he said during a joint press conference.

For his part, Albudaiwi condemned the Israeli violations against Syria and its settlement expansion in the occupied Golan Heights.

"The GGC countries are serious about supporting Syria and its people," he added.

"The Israeli attacks are a flagrant violation of international laws, and we call on Israel to withdraw from the occupied Syrian territories," he urged.

Moreover, he said the GCC supports "everything that bolsters Lebanon and Syria’s security and stability."



Mohammed bin Salman, Zelenskyy Discuss Efforts to Resolve Ukrainian-Russian Crisis

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
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Mohammed bin Salman, Zelenskyy Discuss Efforts to Resolve Ukrainian-Russian Crisis

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has received a phone call from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

During the call on Wednesday, they discussed relations between Saudi Arabia and Ukraine, several mutual concerns, and regional and international developments.

Additionally, they discussed developments on the Ukrainian-Russian crisis and the efforts being made to address it.