Muscat: Oman coordinated foreign minister Yousuf Bin Alawi’s visit to Damascus with regional states and world powers, a top official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Gulf News.
The foreign minister’s surprise visit to Damascus on Monday was done in consultation with the GCC countries, Iran, Russia and the United States, said the source without elaborating.
Oman is working hard to solve the Syrian crisis via dialogue, the official told Gulf News.
The official affirmed that dialogue with the Syrian National Coalition is continuing in Muscat to find a solution to the crisis.
“No matter where the negotiation is taking place, whether in Muscat or any other place, all we want to find is a solution to both the Syrian and Yemeni crises,” the official said.
In Muscat last week, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousuf Bin Alawi met a delegation from the opposition Syrian National Coalition led by its leader Khalid Khoja
That came after a sudden visit by Bin Alawi to Damascus, during which he met President Bashar Al Assad.
The Oman News Agency reported that the meeting discussed regional developments, particularly the war against terrorism in Syria and the ideas presented regionally and internationally to help in finding a solution for the crisis in Syria.
Al Assad welcomed sincere efforts being exerted by the Sultanate to assist in solving the Syrian crisis. He affirmed that combatting terrorism will contribute to the success of any political path in Syria.
Bin Alawi said that Oman is exerting efforts to help find a solution to the Syrian crisis. He stressed the importance of unity and stability in Syria for the security and stability of the region.
Oman has not cut diplomatic or political ties with Damascus, unlike other Gulf Arab countries.
In August, Syria’s top diplomat Walid Mua’alem met with Bin Alawi in Muscat, in the foreign minister’s first visit to the Gulf since the brutal war began in 2011.
