Syrian Foreign Minister Asad al-Sheybani arrived in Qatar for negotiations News

Assad al-Shaibani’s visit to Qatar took place when the new administration sought support from Arab states after the overthrow of Assad.

Syria’s newly appointed foreign minister, Assad Hassan al-Shaibani, arrived in Qatar as part of a regional visit to seek support for the new government that came to power after the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad last month.

Syria’s official news agency SANA confirmed that the delegation, which included the country’s defense minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and intelligence chief Anas Khattab, arrived on Sunday.

Al-Sheybani is expected to meet with Qatari officials, including the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Al-Khulayfi, during his first visit to the Gulf country. A visit is coming About two weeks after al-Khulayf went to Damascus to negotiate with officials of the new administration.

Al-Khulayfi’s visit came a few days after Doha opened its embassy in Damascus after 13 years. Qatar did not join other Arab states in recognizing Al-Assad, who took refuge in Russia after fleeing the country on December 8. He is accused of committing war crimes against his own citizens.

Syria’s new government is seeking investment from wealthy Gulf states to rebuild the country’s infrastructure and boost its economy, devastated by more than a decade of war.

Al Jazeera’s Steffanie Dekker from Doha said discussions between Qatari officials and the Syrian delegation are likely to focus on “strengthening ties, security and reconstruction”.

“This is an interim government that faces huge challenges in rebuilding Syria. We need money for this,” he added.

Al-Sheybani is expected to visit the United Arab Emirates and Jordan this week to “support stability, security, economic recovery and build outstanding partnerships.”

He began his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, where Saudi officials discussed how best to support Syria’s political transition.

Meanwhile, Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Shara and Lebanon’s interim prime minister Najib Mikati agreed in a phone call on Friday to restore calm along the 375 km (233 mile) border after clashes between Lebanese troops and Syrian militants left five people injured. . .

He leads Al-Sharaa Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that led the takeover of Damascus from the Assad regime.