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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)
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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.

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Gulf

GCC-US Support for the Establishment of an Independent Palestinian State

The Ministerial Meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the US was held in New York. SPA
The Ministerial Meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the US was held in New York. SPA
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GCC-US Support for the Establishment of an Independent Palestinian State

The Ministerial Meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the US was held in New York. SPA
The Ministerial Meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the US was held in New York. SPA

Foreign Ministers from the Gulf and the US have announced their support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders.

The Ministerial Meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the US was convened on September 25 in New York, co-chaired by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who currently chairs the GCC Ministerial Council. The meeting was also attended by Foreign Ministers from GCC member states and Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi.

A statement issued on Thursday said the ministers announced “their support for the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state living in peace and security alongside Israel along the 1967 borders, with mutually agreed land swaps, in accordance with internationally recognized parameters and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.”

The ministers stressed the need for all civilians displaced after October 7 to return to their homes and reaffirmed their belief that a durable peace is essential for a more integrated, stable, and prosperous region.

They also emphasized the need to strengthen the capacity, effectiveness, and transparency of the Palestinian Authority, advocating for unified Palestinian-led governance in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The ministers committed to supporting Palestinian aspirations for self-determination, ensuring that Palestinians are central to post-conflict governance and security in Gaza. They expressed support for improving the quality of life for Palestinians through humanitarian assistance and efforts to accelerate economic growth.

The statement said they expressed deep concern over rising levels of settler and extremist violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and stressed the need for accountability for perpetrators. They called for a halt to unilateral actions, including settlement expansions, that hinder the prospects for peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. They highlighted the importance of protecting all holy sites and places of worship while preserving the historic status quo in Jerusalem, recognizing Jordan’s special role.

On Gaza, the ministers committed to working towards an immediate and sustainable ceasefire and the release of hostages and detainees.

They called for an increase in the rapid and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, including food, water, medical care, fuel, and shelter, and stressed the urgent need to restore basic services and ensure protection for humanitarian workers. They highlighted the necessity for stakeholders to facilitate humanitarian distribution networks across Gaza to alleviate suffering and reiterated that all parties must ensure the safety of aid workers.

The ministers also underscored their shared commitment to the strategic partnership between the GCC and the US, building on the achievements of previous ministerial meetings, including the most recent one in Riyadh on April 29. They emphasized the importance of strengthening consultation, coordination, and cooperation in all fields.