Settling the dispute with Iraq appears much more difficult
Abdullah’s visit highlighted Saudi mediation
According to analysts in Damascus, Syria, which has recently restored diplomatic relations with Morocco, initiated a new approach over the weekend to improve relations with Egypt, severed in 1977. However, it still adheres to a strict line that does not suggest a near-future improvement in relations with Cairo.
The purification of the atmosphere between Syria and Arab countries was the focus of the visit by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to Damascus last Friday, which lasted 24 hours and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s traditional role as a mediator among Arab states. Before leaving Damascus, Prince Abdullah stated that he discussed Syria’s relations with Egypt, Iraq, and Morocco with President Hafez al-Assad.
Arab diplomatic sources in Damascus indicate that Syria, considering that the Arab-Israeli conflict determines the fate of the Arab world, still believes that attempts at dialogue with the Zionist enemy are destined to fail. Diplomatic sources add that Syria believes it can stay away from the new diplomatic developments in the Middle East represented by the Palestinian peace initiative and the international atmosphere of détente. Syria’s strategic geographical position, especially its shared borders with Israel, and its strong military presence in Lebanon, another country sharing borders with Israel, help it maintain this position.
Syrian Vice President Abdul-Halim Khaddam affirmed last Saturday, upon the departure of the Saudi Crown Prince, that Egypt is dear to us, which seemed like a new goodwill gesture from Damascus towards Cairo, the third in less than two months. It is worth mentioning that relations between Damascus and Cairo were severed in 1977 after the visit of former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to Jerusalem.
Observers in Damascus see this as a cautious move, as Syrian Vice President immediately added, in response to a question about Egypt’s return to the Arab League, I cannot address topics that have not been concluded in the talks yet. Egypt’s membership in the Arab League was suspended after the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty in 1979.
However, settling the dispute between Syria and Iraq seems much more difficult. Damascus, still a significant ally of Tehran, believes that Baghdad deprived the Arabs of a formidable force against Israel from the beginning of its war with Iran in 1980.
Syrian press continues its daily harsh criticism of the Iraqi regime, particularly condemning the military assistance provided by Iraq to the anti-Syrian Lebanese Forces militia in Shadra against the Syrian military presence in Lebanon.
Finally, there is the issue with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), whose Executive Committee Chairman Yasser Arafat was expelled from Damascus in 1983. Although the Syrian media consistently adopts a defeatist stance towards the PLO, Palestinian circles see that Damascus has been adopting a wait-and-see approach since the announcement of the Palestinian state on November 15th last year in Algeria.
Damascus, which has not officially recognized the Palestinian state, is closely monitoring developments before making any decision in this regard, according to the same Palestinian circles.
