DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — Saudi Arabia and Syria announced Tuesday the resumption of their diplomatic missions, days after Damascus returned to the Arab League.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the reopening of diplomatic missions in Damascus “is due to the fraternal ties and interest that unite the peoples of Saudi Arabia and the Syrian Arab Republic. Contribute to the development of joint Arab activities and strengthening security and stability in the region.”

The report indicated that the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers, issued on Sunday in Cairo, took into account the decision to resume the participation of Syrian representatives in the meetings of the Council of the League of Arab States and all its organizations and agencies. .

For its part, Syria announced the resumption of its diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia.

An official source in the Syrian Foreign Ministry told the Syrian News Agency (SANA) that his country decided to resume its diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia, “based on the deep ties and common relationship between the Syrian Arab people. The Republic and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the embodiment of the aspirations of the people of both countries, and the Arab The Syrian Arab Republic’s belief in the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between the countries also serves to serve the joint Arab initiative.

Saudi Arabia closed its embassy in Damascus in March 2012 during the early years of the Syrian crisis.

Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, made the first official visit to Syria by a high-ranking Saudi Arabian official on April 18, 2023. The visit came days after a similar visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mikdad. Jeddah