Mar 27, 2018

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Tuesday praised Oman for being one of the few Arab states to maintain ties with Damascus over the past seven years of civil war.

Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 for its deadly crackdown on an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's rule and fellow Arab countries including Saudi Arabia and Qatar have supported the opposition.

Oman's Sultan Qaboos adheres to a strict policy of non-interference in regional affairs, maintaining relations with rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran -- a key backer of Assad.

During a visit to Oman, Muallem praised Muscat for taking "supportive positions towards Syria at various Arab and international forums", the state-run Oman News Agency reported.

Syria's top envoy touted economic and investment cooperation with the sultanate, noting that reconstruction opportunities were on the horizon.