Syria’s Assad visits UAE, first trip to an Arab state since war
The meeting is the latest sign of warming relations between Syria and the UAE, which had broken ties with
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with the UAE’s de facto ruler, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held talks in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, his first official visit to an Arab country since civil war erupted in 2011, UAE state media said.
The meeting is the latest sign of warming relations between Syria and the UAE, which had broken ties with Damascus in February 2012.
Assad met with the UAE’s de facto ruler, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, discussing “fraternal relations” between the two countries, the WAM news agency reported.
They also discussed efforts to “contribute to the consolidation of security, stability and peace in the Arab region and the Middle East”, it added.
Sheikh Mohammed said he hoped the visit would “pave the way for goodness, peace and stability to prevail in Syria and the entire region”, WAM said.
The pair also discussed ways of “preserving the territorial integrity of Syria and the withdrawal of foreign forces from the country,” it said, as well as means of providing “political and humanitarian support for Syria”
