DAMASCUS, (SANA) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met on Sunday with Omani Foreign Minister Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah and discussed bilateral relations and regional and international developments.
The Omani foreign minister said bin Alawi and Assad discussed bilateral relations and means of strengthening them, regional and international developments and strengthening efforts to restore security and stability in the region.
During the meeting, bin Alawi conveyed "greetings of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said," the ministry said.
Alwaleed and his accompanying delegation also held talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, during which he reviewed "bilateral relations between the two countries and the current developments on the Arab and regional arenas."
Bin Alawi visited Damascus in October 2015, the only Gulf minister to visit Syria in the last eight years.
It is noteworthy that the Sultanate of Oman did not sever diplomatic and political relations with Damascus, unlike other Gulf countries that boycotted the Assad regime and was demanding his departure from power.
Arab countries are now seeking to restore ties with Damascus after government forces have made progress on the ground in the last two years, with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain opening their embassies in Damascus after their closure since 2012.
Since 2011, Syria has witnessed a bloody conflict that has killed more than 370,000 people, devastated infrastructure and displaced more than half of the population inside and outside the country.