Oman helps US Syria message exchange
Oman is helping Syria and the United States exchange messages over the fate of the missing American journalist Austin Tice.
In an interview with Al Monitor, Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi also spoke about Oman’s relations with China, with Israel and about its role as a regional mediator.
“Our neutrality is not passive. It’s constructive, it’s positive, it’s proactive,” Sayyid Badr is quoted as saying.
“We really stick to the principle of: “How do we create a sustainable environment of peace and security and stability so that our people and our generations can prosper?” he is quoted as saying.
The Minister told Al Monitor that there has been an exchange of messages, “partly” with Oman’s help, between Washington and Damascus about the fate of Austin Tice, a freelance US journalist who disappeared more than 10 years ago while reporting on the civil war in Syria.
“We know at least there are messages going back and forth,” Sayyid Badr is quoted as saying. “I can't tell you that they are closer to finding a way out yet. But the process has started, and I hope it continues,” he is quoted as adding.
“You want to see hopefully Syria fully integrated back into the international community. There are questions pertaining to certain people, pertaining to certain aspects that need to be brought to closure,” Al Monitor quotes Sayyid Badr as saying.
Al Monitor reports that Sayyid Badr is optimistic that renewed engagement with Syria could help address the country’s challenges.
The return of Syria as a member of the Arab League will “empower it to address these issues and deliver on some of the requirements for Syria to heal, to reconstruct [and] reconcile,” he is quoted as saying.
“This is [what] drove us and the rest of the Arabs eventually, to go back to the negotiating table and try to find a deal and find a better way out of this crisis one day — and it's a long way to go,” he is quoted as adding.
On Yemen, Al Monitor reports that Sayyid Badr sees the direct talks between Saudi and Houthi officials in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, earlier this year, as a “first step” in ending the long-running conflict in Oman’s neighbour.
Al Monitor quotes him as saying: “I think it's the first step because up until recently, there wasn't really any credible dialogue between any major players in Yemen. Our assessment is that they are now working on the modalities of how we can move forward that process which will help them [gain] better trust and confidence.”
On the question of relations with Israel, Al Monitor reports that the creation of a Palestinian State would an essential condition for Oman to re-establish ties with Israel.
“We are open to a relationship with Israel, but not at the expense of ignoring [and] closing the door on the Palestinians,” the Minister is quoted as saying.
“Any fully-fledged relationship with Israel also needs to be also matched in parallel with a fully-fledged relationship and recognition of the State of Palestine,” he is quoted as adding.
Al Monitor reports that Sayyid Badr says Oman is ready to assist with the Palestinian-Israeli peace process “when the mood and the willingness are there in the Israeli camp, which unfortunately, at the moment we don't see.”
On Oman’s relations with China, Al Monitor reports that the Minister sees China “as a partner, not a competitor.”
“We are also equally friends with India, China, Russia for that matter. We are really trying to create a very balanced set of relationships,” it quotes Sayyid Badr as saying.
On US security policy in the Gulf Al Monitor reports Sayyid Badr as saying that he is:” confident about US engagement and commitment to stability, to the security of the region.”