Politics Jordan pledges support for new leadership in Syria

SDA

23.12.2024 - 15:35

ARCHIVE - A man removes the colors of the official flag of the ousted government from a door store. Photo: Hussein Malla/AP/dpa
ARCHIVE - A man removes the colors of the official flag of the ousted government from a door store. Photo: Hussein Malla/AP/dpa
Keystone

Jordan's Foreign Minister Aiman al-Safadi has assured the new leadership formed by Islamist rebels in Syria of support for the reconstruction of the country.

Keystone-SDA

Jordan stands by Syria in building an independent and sovereign state, al-Safadi told the Qatari news channel al-Jazeera after a meeting with the leader of the Islamist group HTS, Ahmed al-Sharaa.

There must be no terrorism and no marginalization in the new Syria. The rights of all Syrians must be protected, he demanded. The meeting with al-Sharaa in the capital Damascus was positive, said al-Safadi. The security of the neighboring countries is interconnected. There are challenges. "But we have agreed to work together to overcome them," said al-Safadi.

Other top diplomats meet al-Sharaa

A high-ranking delegation from Qatar also arrived in Damascus for talks with al-Sharaa. It was the first visit by a high-ranking delegation in 13 years, explained the Qatari Foreign Ministry. Qatar is determined to continue supporting the Syrian people, it said.

The Gulf state had supported opposition forces in the fight against long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian civil war. Following a 13-year closure, Qatar reopened its embassy in Damascus at the weekend.

A delegation from Saudi Arabia had already arrived in Damascus on Sunday for a meeting with al-Sharaa. The Turkish foreign minister also met with him.

A rebel alliance led by the Islamist group Haiat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) toppled Syria's long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad on December 8.