Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcomed on Monday Asaad al-Shibani, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Syrian Transitional Government.
Abdullah bin Zayed receives Minister of Foreign Affairs in Syrian transitional government © WAM
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed discussed bolstering "brotherly" ties with Syria during the first official visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani to the United Arab Emirates on Monday, Emirati state news agency WAM reported.
The two ministers also discussed the overall developments in Syria since former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by rebels on Dec. 8.
The UAE's foreign minister reiterated the country's support for Syria's independence and sovereignty, WAM added.
Syria's Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, head of intelligence Anas Khattab and the UAE's minister of state for defence affairs, Mohammed Fadel al-Mazrouei, also attended the meeting.
The UAE is part of Shibani's second foreign tour, which earlier took him to Qatar and will also include a visit to Jordan. He said the visits aim to "support stability, security, economic recovery and build distinguished partnerships", according to his account on X.
Shibani made his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia last week, where Saudi officials discussed how best to support Syria's political transition.
Reporting by Clauda Tanios and Jaidaa Taha
Saudi Arabia and Syria signed a cooperation agreement between the two countries' defense ministries on Wednesday, Saudi state news agency SPA reported, as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group continues its missile and drone attacks on the kingdom.
Ankara rejected on Wednesday what it called the "prejudiced and unfair" stance of the European Union towards fundamental rights and the judiciary in Turkey, and regarding Cyprus, contained in the bloc's report on EU membership candidates.
Turkey's parliament is set on Wednesday to ratify a defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan that includes a collective defence clause, committing NATO's second-largest army to Riyadh's defence as it faces attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis.
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