Qatar brings together Syrian and Iraqi leaders to repair relations

First known meeting between leaders addresses 'rapid developments' in Syria

Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim in Doha on Tuesday. Photo: Iraqi News Agency

The President of Syria and Prime Minister of Iraq have held their first known meeting since rebels led by the formerly Al Qaeda-linked group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS) took control in Damascus.

The meeting in Doha took place on Tuesday, an Iraqi government official told The National. It involved Syria's President Ahmad Al Shara, Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim. The three-way talks were not publicised at the time of Mr Al Shara's visit to Qatar.

According to Syrian state media, the meeting addressed the issue of joint border security, with both sides "agreeing to strengthen field and intelligence co-ordination between the relevant authorities to counter shared threats".

On the economic front, they discussed mechanisms to revitalise trade relations, facilitate the movement of goods and people across border crossings, encourage mutual investment, and explore new avenues for co-operation in energy, transport and infrastructure.

The Iraqi News Agency said the discussion focused on "rapid developments in the region, particularly the ongoing situation in Syria", and revealed that Mr Al Sudani said Iraq was "closely monitoring the developments in Syria", as he called for a "comprehensive political process" in the country.

Mr Al Sudani made an appeal to “protect Syria's diverse social, religious, and national fabric as well as safeguarding holy sites, houses of worship and places of prayer", the agency said. It said the Iraqi leader stressed the importance of Syria “taking practical and serious steps to combat the terrorist organisation ISIS".

A day later at the Sulaimani Forum in Iraq, Mr Al Sudani revealed he had invited Syria's President to attend the Arab Summit in Baghdad next month.

“Yes, a formal invitation has been delivered to him, and he is welcome to attend and participate in the Arab Summit,” Mr Al Sudani told The National’s Editor-in-Chief Mina Al-Oraibi during a discussion at the forum in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq.

The Syrian and Iraqi leaders have held one known phone call since the fall of the Assad regime in December. Iraq has long sought stability along its border with Syria, where ISIS remnants and drug trafficking networks continue to pose serious security challenges.