A Saudi official told Asharq Al-Awsat on Sunday that the Kingdom was closely monitoring the developments in Syria in wake of the opposition’s ouster of President Bashar al-Assad.
Saudi Arabia is hoping that stability will be rapidly restored in the country and that state institutions will return to normal operations, he added.
Moreover, the Kingdom hopes that Syria’s unity, security and territorial integrity will be preserved and that the people prioritize national interests in building their state, he added.
Throughout the Syrian crisis, Saudi Arabia had always underscored the importance of the country’s unity and territorial integrity away from foreign meddling because it believes that the Syrians themselves have the right to determine their destiny to overcome the crisis, continued the official.
President of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces Hadi al-Bahra told Asharq Al-Awsat that generations of Syrians were born in Saudi during the past 13 years when the crisis erupted.
The Kingdom was like their second home, he stressed. Saudi Arabia has hosted 3 million Syrians since the conflict began.
Head of the National Renewal-Syria Movement Obeida Nahhas told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia had stood by the Syrian people, who have long suffered from war and instability.
Saudi Arabia took in 3 million Syrians and treated them as residents, not refugees, he remarked. They were offered free education and healthcare and were reintegrated in society.
