Syria’s Assad Arrives in UAE in Official Visit

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad meets with President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates March 19, 2023. (UAE Presidential Court/Handout via Reuters)
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad meets with President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates March 19, 2023. (UAE Presidential Court/Handout via Reuters)
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Syria’s Assad Arrives in UAE in Official Visit

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad meets with President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates March 19, 2023. (UAE Presidential Court/Handout via Reuters)
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad meets with President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates March 19, 2023. (UAE Presidential Court/Handout via Reuters)

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday for an official visit, accompanied by his wife Asma.

State media said he was met by President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan on arrival in Abu Dhabi on Sunday and received a canon salute as his convoy entered the royal palace. Assad's plane was greeted by Emirati fighter jets.

Assad was also received by Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser; Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Advisor for Special Affairs at the Ministry of Presidential Court; Ali Mohammed Hammad Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for National Security; Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President; Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy; Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice; and Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State.

Assad’s delegation included Dr. Samer al-Khalil, Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade; Mansour Fadlallah Azzam, Minister of Presidential Affairs; Boutros al-Hallaq, Minister of Information; Dr. Ayman Sosan, Deputy Foreign Minister; and Dr. Ghassan Abbas, Chargé d'Affairs of the Syrian Embassy in the UAE.

Assad held talks in Oman last month on his first foreign trip since the devastating earthquake hit Syria and Türkiye and visited Russia earlier this month.



Iran FM Receives Heads of Trilateral Committee Delegation in Tehran 

Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi receives the heads of the delegations of the joint trilateral committee in Tehran on Tuesday. (SPA)
Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi receives the heads of the delegations of the joint trilateral committee in Tehran on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Iran FM Receives Heads of Trilateral Committee Delegation in Tehran 

Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi receives the heads of the delegations of the joint trilateral committee in Tehran on Tuesday. (SPA)
Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi receives the heads of the delegations of the joint trilateral committee in Tehran on Tuesday. (SPA)

Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi received in Tehran on Tuesday the heads of the delegations of the joint trilateral committee tasked with following up on the 2023 Beijing Agreement.

The Saudi delegation is led by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and China’s delegation is headed by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Miao Deyu.

The officials discussed ways to boost cooperation and reviewed issues of mutual interest.

The commitee had met in Tehran earlier on Tuesday with the parties saying they look forward to expanding economic and political cooperation, as well as in other fields.

They also underlined the importance of dialogue and regional cooperation to bolster security, stability, peace and economic prosperity.

Saudi Arabia, Iran and China called for an end to Israeli attacks on Palestine, Lebanon and Syria. They condemned Israel’s attacks against Iran and the violation of its sovereignty.

Saudi Arabia and Iran stressed their commitment to implementing all articles of the 2023 Beijing Agreement, saying they seek to bolster good neighborliness between them.


Mohammed bin Salman, Sharaa Discuss Syria’s Economic Recovery 

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
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Mohammed bin Salman, Sharaa Discuss Syria’s Economic Recovery 

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held telephone talks on Tuesday with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

The leaders reviewed bilateral relations between their countries and opportunities to strengthen cooperation across several fields.

They tackled issues of mutual interest and the efforts aimed at promoting security and stability and supporting economic recovery in Syria.


Saudi FM, Rubio Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
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Saudi FM, Rubio Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held telephone talks on Tuesday on regional and international developments.

The State Department said they discussed the developments in Yemen and the pressing need to advance peace efforts in Sudan.

Rubio welcomed the outcomes of the visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the United States in November.

The visit, he said, “underscored the strength of the Saudi-US partnership.”