By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Syria has indicated interest to reopen its diplomatic mission in Tunisia and appoint an ambassador there, more than ten years after both countries experienced bruised relations, Damascus and Tunis said in a joint statement on Wednesday.
This is in response to a similar move by Tunisia earlier in the month when the country’s President, Kais Saied instructed his foreign minister to begin procedures to appoint an ambassador to Damascus.
“In response to the initiative of the President of the Tunisian Republic, the Syrian government decided to reopen the Syrian embassy in Tunisia and to appoint an ambassador soon,” the joint statement said, SANA, Syria’s official news agency had reported.
“Out of both sides’ keenness to restore the Syrian-Tunisian relations to their normal track, consultation and coordination are ongoing between the foreign ministers … to further consolidate the deep-rooted ties of brotherhood binding Syria and Tunisia,” the statement added.
Saied had last month indicated interest to restore diplomatic relations with the war-torn Syria.
Tunisia expelled Syria’s ambassador in 2012 over President Bashar al-Assad government’s repression of peaceful protesters that triggered more than a decade of civil war.
About half a million Syrians have been killed and millions displaced since 2011.
In 2015, Tunisia took a step towards re-establishing relations when it designated a consular representative to Damascus to “follow” the situation of Tunisians in Syria.
Nine Arab countries are set to meet in Saudi Arabia this week to discuss moves to end al-Assad’s international isolation.
The Arab League, which suspended Syria in 2011, is expected to hold a summit in Riyadh in May.
