Sultan of Oman Becomes First Gulf Leader to Congratulate Assad on Reelection

Gulf

May 31st, 4:44am

Muscat - Asharq Al-Awsat

Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said gives a speech after being sworn in before the royal family council in Muscat, Oman January 11, 2020. (Reuters)

Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq al-Said sent a cable of congratulations to Syria’s Bashar Assad to congratulate him on his reelection as president. This marks the first message of congratulations by a Gulf leader to Assad since his reelection last week. Oman’s state news agency reported that Sultan Haitham expressed his “sincerest congratulations to Assad, wishing him success in continuing to lead the brotherly Syrian people towards achieving their aspirations for stability, progress and prosperity.” Oman had downgraded its diplomatic representation in Damascus after the eruption of the Syrian conflict in 2011. It did, however, restore full representation in 2020, by reinstating an ambassador to Damascus, becoming the first Arab and Gulf state to do so.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3000996/sultan-oman-becomes-first-gulf-leader-congratulate-assad-reelection