SYRIA’S TRANSITION:
Transition Meetings:
October 6:
President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 8 for meetings with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud.
In a public readout, the Presidency said talks had discussed bilateral political and economic relations, as well as coordination in supporting Syria’s post-conflict recovery, including proposed investments in the energy, construction, industry, agriculture, and trade sectors.
Subsequent media reporting claimed that the talks had also discussed a Saudi request for Syria to contribute military forces to the recently launched war against the Houthis in Yemen.
The Foreign Ministry’s Director of Immigration and Refugee Affairs, Nahla Othman, traveled to Denmark and met with the Danish Foreign Ministry’s Department of Humanitarian Aid and Civil Society, Marie-Louise Koch Wegter, on October 6.
Later that day, Othman also met with Danish Minister of State for Development Policy, Elizabeth Søndergård Kron.
The Foreign Ministry’s Director of Arab Affairs, Mohammed Taha al-Ahmed, hosted a meeting with Libyan Charge d’Affairs Hassan Mohammed Ammar on October 6 to discuss proposed cooperation in energy and agriculture.
The Foreign Ministry’s Director of Afro-Asian and Oceania Affairs, Nada Asaad, hosted a meeting with the Pakistani Charge d’Affairs Muhammad Magith Afzal on October 6, during which they discussed bilateral diplomatic and economic cooperation. A letter from the Pakistani Prime Minister was also handed over, addressed to President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Syria’s Central Bureau of Statistics and the Foreign Ministry jointly convened a workshop at Damascus’ Golden Mezzeh hotel on October 6 to discuss the ongoing multi-sector needs assessment.
Customs Director Khaled Barada and Hasakeh Deputy Governor Ahmed al-Hilali traveled to Qamishli on October 6 to inspect the final preparations for re-opening and activating the Qamishli Airport.
The Foreign Ministry’s Director of Protocol Affairs, Mohammed Abdulsalam, hosted a meeting with the Philippines’ Consul General Ferdinand Bantas Flores on October 6, during which they discussed cooperation in enhancing diplomatic mission access and logistics processes.
Syria’s Ambassador to Lebanon Iyad Hamzah met with Lebanese Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri on October 6 to discuss bilateral ties; facilitating the movement of commerce and people across borders; and the need to improve the process of residency approval processes.
Deputy Governor of Deir ez Zour hosted a delegation from Qatari company Baladna on October 6 to discuss proposed ways to move forward a previously signed agreement to invest in the region’s agriculture and livestock husbandry sectors.
