San Francisco Frontiers - Syria, Qatar discuss reconstruction during emir's visit

The trip by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, less than two months after Islamist-led rebels ousted Assad, comes a day after Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa was appointed interim president for an unspecified transitional period. It also follows a visit by Qatar's prime minister earlier this month.

"We discussed a comprehensive framework for bilateral cooperation concerning reconstruction" in the country devastated by nearly 14 years of civil war, Shaibani said during a press conference with Qatari Minister of State at the foreign ministry, Mohammed al-Khulaifi.

He said their talks covered "vital sectors including infrastructure... investment and banking services, paving the way for economic recovery, health and education".

Khulaifi welcomed Wednesday's announcement by Syria's authorities "on the end of the revolutionary phase and the transition to the phase of establishing the state".

Doha will continue "to provide the required support on all humanitarian and service levels, and also regarding infrastructure and electricity", he told the press conference.

Unlike other Arab countries, Qatar did not restore diplomatic ties with Syria under Assad and was one of the first to back the armed rebellion that erupted after his government crushed a peaceful uprising in 2011.

Syria's new authorities on Wednesday said Sharaa had been tasked with forming a transitional legislature, and they also announced the dissolution of all armed groups involved in Assad's overthrow, as well as the former government's army.

Sharaa's Islamist group led the offensive that ousted Assad on December 8.

- 'Historic visit' -

Qatar's emir arrived Thursday on "an official visit to Damascus" where he was welcomed by Sharaa, a statement from the Qatari court said.

The Syrian embassy in Doha had told AFP that Sheikh Tamim would meet Sharaa "in a historic visit" that would address "cooperation and aid in several sectors".

Qatar was the second country, after Turkey, to reopen its embassy in the Syrian capital following Assad's overthrow, and has urged the lifting of sanctions.

During a visit earlier this month, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani also pledged to support the rehabilitation of Syria's infrastructure.

He said the agreement included providing Syria with 200 megawatts of power and gradually increasing production.

A diplomatic source has also said Qatar was weighing plans to assist Syria with public sector salaries.

Also this month, ministers from Syria's transitional government including Shaibani met the Qatari premier on their first visit to the Gulf country since taking power.

On December 23, Khulaifi led the first high-level Qatari delegation to Damascus after a 13-year diplomatic rift.

Qatar's ruler is the most senior of a string of foreign officials to visit Damascus since December.

A delegation from Russia, a close ally of ousted leader Assad, visited this week, while foreign ministers or senior officials from countries including France, Germany and Turkey have also been to Damascus.

Syria's defence ministry said Thursday that a high-level Turkish military delegation had also visited the country.

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G.Collins--SFF