Saudi Arabia to Reopen Consulate in Syria after 12 Years

Private sources revealed to the Russian news agency "Sputnik" that Saudi Arabia will soon resume work at its consulate in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

The sources said Russian-Emirati mediation led to overcoming obstacles facing the two Arab countries, amid speculation that the Saudi consulate in Damascus would be opened, after Eid al-Fitr, which follows the holy month of Ramadan.

The sources added that work is underway to reopen the official diplomatic gates between Syria and Saudi Arabia, after international and Arab efforts in this regard.

The sources explained that there are Russian-Emirati efforts that were made behind closed doors, during which there was mediation between the two Arab countries, which recently led to a rapprochement between the Syrian state and Saudi Arabia, against the background of the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement.

The sources expected that the Saudi consulate would reopen after the next Eid al-Fitr, noting that this would be preceded by a visit by the Saudi foreign minister to Syria, during which he would meet with Syrian officials, led by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Saudi Arabia closed its embassy in Damascus on these days of March 2012, after which diplomatic relations between the two Arab countries were severed throughout the years of the war against Syria.