Improving Syria-Saudi Ties a Boon to Mideast
This story was filed by CBS News' George Baghdadi in Damascus.
The Saudi king's two-day visit to Damascus was the first of its kind since 2005. Saudi-Syrian relations hit rock bottom that year following the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, a staunch ally to the Saudi ruling family.
Syria was accused of implication in the murder and, under intense regional and international pressure, withdrew the troops it had sent to Lebanon to end the civil war there. Damascus has always denied any involvement in Hariri's assassination.
Above: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, left, meets with Syrian President Bashar Assad at al-Shaab presidential palace in Damascus, Syria, Oct. 7, 2009.
The sweetening in the relationship could have significant repercussions for the region. Washington is hoping to engage Syria in a new round of peace talks with Israel. The Obama administration and its Arab allies hope to diminish the influence of Iranian-backed groups Hezbollah and Hamas in regional affairs. Syria wields significant influence over these militant organizations, which are classified by Washington as terrorist groups.
The changing dynamic could also help to stabilize Iraq, which borders both countries, and to end a political stalemate in Lebanon — where both Riyadh and Damascus have great influence, but have for years been on opposite sides of the fence.
"Talks stressed on the importance of improving Syrian-Saudi relations to serve the interest of the peoples of the two brotherly countries and peoples of the Arab and Islamic worlds," an official statement read after Thursday's talks in Damascus.
"It was agreed that the Supreme Joint Committee will convene as soon as possible to activate economic cooperation and trade by opening up new horizons and encouraging businessmen of both countries toward mutual investment," the statement added.
The Saudis reestablished diplomatic ties with Syria after Damascus's apparent non-interference in Lebanon's general election in June, after which Hariri's son, Saad Hariri, was designated as prime minister. In early July, Riyadh named a new ambassador to Syria after leaving the post vacant for a year.
"Regarding Lebanon, both leaders underlined the importance of promoting harmony between the Lebanese (domestic political factions) and searching for points of convergence in the interest of Lebanon through the formation of a government of national unity as the foundation stone for Lebanon's stability and unity," the Presidential statement said.
Assad and Abdullah had met previously since the Saudi monarch took the initiative during a summit in Kuwait to turn the page on inter-Arab differences. Assad's visit to Saudi Arabia in September to participate in the opening of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology brought hope that a new chapter could be opened between the two heavyweight Arab countries.
"The two sides stressed their commitment to continue efforts to enhance joint Arab action and build a solid foundation for Arab solidarity in the interest of Arab and Islamic issues. Both showed their willingness to coordinate and consult with each other to achieve this," the statement said.
Buthaina Shaaban, an adviser to Assad, said the talks were productive and aimed at "strengthening the Arab Islamic position," in the face of what she described as Israeli "intransigence".
"Syrian-Saudi ties are seeing excellent progress," Shaaban said, adding that Syria's ties with Iran and Turkey, as well as Saudi Arabia, would help create an effective Islamic block.
The king's heavyweight entourage – including a sizeable media delegation as well as the usual cohorts of security men, occupied entire floors of Damascus's finest hotels.
The Saudi overtures to Mr. Assad have come in tandem with warming diplomatic ties between Syria and the West, namely France and the U.S.
These three countries are hoping enhanced economic and security relations will lead to changes in Syria's regional policies.
Syria has been Tehran's strongest ally in the Arab world since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Some Arab countries, such as oil-rich Saudi and Egypt, have been trying to peel Syria away from Iran, but these moves have thus far proven unsuccessful.
Washington had an antagonistic relationship with Assad until President Obama took office and began an outreach to Damascus. Last week, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal al-Mekdad met U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Jack Lew, the highest-level meeting between Americans and Syrians in years.