Qatar’s foreign ministry declared Sunday that its embassy in Damascus will reopen this week, signaling the reestablishment of diplomatic ties severed in 2011 after the outbreak of Syria’s 13-year civil war.
“The State of Qatar has announced the resumption of operations at its embassy in the Syrian Arab Republic, starting from Tuesday. HE Khalifa Abdullah Al Mahmoud Al Sharif has been appointed as the chargé d'affaires,” a press release stated.
Unlike many other Arab nations, Doha never reconciled with the Ba'athist regime of Bashar al-Assad, which was overthrown by a coalition of rebel groups after an 11-day offensive led to the autocratic leader’s exile in Russia on December 8.
This move follows the confirmation by Qatari government spokesperson Majed al-Ansari, who told the state-controlled Qatar News Agency that representatives from the Persian Gulf country have been in talks with Syria’s interim administration since shortly after its formation on December 10.
