Qatar's Embassy in Damascus Reopens After 13-Year Hiatus
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Damascus, Dec 22 (NationPress) Qatar has officially restored its embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus, proudly hoisting its national flag for the first time in 13 years.
In the affluent neighborhood of Abu Rummaneh, workers were observed tidying up the embassy premises and erasing graffiti from its walls on Saturday.
The reopening of the embassy coincides with a surge of visits from regional and Western officials to Syria, aiming to engage with the country’s new de-facto leadership after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad's regime on December 8.
This event follows closely after a Qatari delegation's visit to Damascus last week aimed at reestablishing the Qatari diplomatic mission, which had been suspended in 2011 due to the onset of the Syrian civil war.
The delegation held talks with representatives of Syria's transitional government, reaffirming Qatar's dedication to assisting the Syrian populace in achieving security, peace, development, and prosperity, as stated by Qatari Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Majed Al Ansari.
The discussions also focused on improving the delivery of Qatari humanitarian aid to Syria and evaluating the pressing needs of the Syrian people during this pivotal period, Al Ansari added.
Qatar becomes the second nation, following Turkey, to officially resume diplomatic functions in the Syrian capital since the fall of Assad.
Earlier on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed that his nation would support Syria's transitional process and contribute to its recovery and stability.
"We are aiding the Syrian people in managing the transition process smoothly, ensuring no setbacks along the way," the state-run TRT broadcaster reported Erdogan as stating.
"Creating a constitution is a vital step in reconstructing the state," Erdogan remarked to journalists on his return flight from Cairo, where he participated in the 11th Summit of the Developing Eight Organisation for Economic Cooperation.
"To facilitate this, we have begun communication with key figures in Syria's new administration."
