After an absence of more than eleven years, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad arrived today, Wednesday, in Jeddah for his first official visit to Saudi Arabia since the diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed at the beginning of the conflict in Syria. Upon his arrival, he was warmly welcomed at King Abdulaziz Airport by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Walid bin Abdul Karim Al-Khreeji.
Mikdad's visit to Saudi Arabia came in response to an invitation from Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud to hold discussions on efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves Syria's unity, security, and stability, facilitates the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland, and ensures the delivery of humanitarian aid to affected areas in Syria.
This visit by the Syrian top diplomat to Saudi Arabia occurred two days before a meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers in Riyadh to discuss Syria's return to the Arab League and the invitation to the Syrian president to participate in the Arab summit hosted by the Kingdom next May.
