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20261105 050000 UTC
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[00:00:11] Heading a high-level delegation, reason, relations with Iranian policies in
[00:00:15] its security, only. We put this His Excellency President Ahmed Al-Shara in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
[00:00:19] This visit is the second within a
[00:00:22] single month, and this
[00:00:26] is something that means a lot to Syrians.
[00:00:31] It differs. We have new data in From Damascus to Riyadh,
[00:00:34] alliances in history is re-writing
[00:00:38] of the map of alliances in business sector development. Is this description correct? its balances in the region, and the regional compass points to the station of major
[00:00:41] partnership. Talking about major partnership here
[00:00:46] Professor Salman, to this means talking about a delegation that included ministers of foreign affairs,
[00:00:49] defense, finance,
[00:00:52] industry, and the head of general intelligence.
[00:00:56] Some say these are
[00:00:59] Ahmed Al-Shara to Riyadh? Thank you for the features of a new phase. A completely new phase is being drawn today.
[00:01:02] A phase that will take
[00:01:03] as well as the the two countries from
[00:01:05] international situation the shore of political coordination to the depth of strategic
[00:01:08] and developmental partnership. This opinion is supported by
[00:01:12] what was announced about
[00:01:15] discussing multiple
[00:01:17] practices in and vital topics, and
[00:01:21] the size of the open files on
[00:01:24] the table between
[00:01:25] threats from the two countries. On the table today, in today's
[00:01:29] episode, we ask what this accelerated pace of
[00:01:32] meetings means. How
[00:01:35] will this partnership reflect on the path of
[00:01:38] economic recovery and reconstruction in Syria?
[00:01:42] What about the talk of Syria joining the Mecca alliance?
[00:01:46] And are we facing the formulation of
[00:01:49] that is being cooked on a slow fire and will redraw
[00:01:52] the rules of stability in
[00:01:55] expected more from the region? In today's episode, we will try
[00:01:57] to delve into the dimensions of the Syrian- Saudi
[00:02:00] rapprochement and read into
[00:02:04] the messages of the large Syrian delegation and the future of
[00:02:06] strategic
[00:02:09] and can see this partnership the humanitarian level, let's touch upon between Syria and Saudi Arabia. Welcome.
[00:02:12] outcomes as well. At
[00:02:25] to maintain security will reflect
[00:02:29] Welcome, then. President Ahmed Al-Shara met with Saudi Crown
[00:02:32] Prince Mohammed bin Salman
[00:02:34] This program in the Saudi capital Riyadh,
[00:02:37] with the presence of a number of ministers and senior
[00:02:41] officials from both sides,
[00:02:43] or memorandums of understanding that were signed in where they discussed bilateral relations and regional
[00:02:46] and international developments and enhancing cooperation
[00:02:49] between the two sisterly countries in
[00:02:55] regional security it was announced that a number of agreements various fields, in addition to emphasizing the importance of enhancing were indeed signed at Al-Imamah Palace in security and stability in
[00:02:58] then return to open the discussion on the table.
[00:03:01] Damascus
[00:03:04] and Riyadh: A broad title that summarizes the distances of
[00:03:07] history, geography, and common relations,
[00:03:10] number of agreements were signed with and sets the compass
[00:03:13] of understanding into a founding contract on to a station where politics intersects with economic
[00:03:16] the agreements that were concluded in figures and the obsession of development. In the Saudi
[00:03:18] capital, President Ahmed Al-Shara met with Saudi Crown Prince
[00:03:22] Mohammed bin Salman in an official
[00:03:27] with the Syrian be political impetus, visit, the second within one month, and at the head of a high-level delegation. The delegation included
[00:03:30] the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Finance, and Industry,
[00:03:33] in addition to the head of the General Intelligence Service. The composition
[00:03:37] in a briefcase and come to you. This of this delegation is nothing but a mirror of the expanding
[00:03:40] scope of issues on the table, as it confirms, beyond any doubt,
[00:03:44] that Damascus and Riyadh have left the square of
[00:03:47] traditional diplomatic coordination to the space of multi-track
[00:03:50] institutional
[00:03:52] work.
[00:03:55] The scene did not stop at
[00:03:57] some militias and factions in political movement, as the package of agreements that
[00:04:00] are expected to be announced in various sectors
[00:04:03] clearly inaugurates a unique development path,
[00:04:07] its most prominent title being to move rapprochement from the rooms of
[00:04:10] diplomacy to the books of joint
[00:04:14] I mean, makes it bear part of the responsibility investment and sovereign
[00:04:18] through cooperation with in partnerships. And here, perhaps, the scale of Saudi confidence emerges in the equation of Syrian recovery,
[00:04:21] as Riyadh has had many remarkable positions towards
[00:04:25] Syria since the liberation of the country, while Syria, with its
[00:04:28] political position and its environment that
[00:04:31] awaits the influx of investments, and the diversity
[00:04:34] of the Syrian delegation is nothing but a practical translation
[00:04:37] of the expanding scope of Syrian relations in
[00:04:40] Arab and regional files.
[00:04:44] However, the real test for all this diplomatic
[00:04:47] on, or rather, consequences engineering does
[00:04:48] on the region, on politics in not lie in the eloquence of texts nor in the multitude
[00:04:51] of agreements, but rather in the efficiency of field implementation
[00:04:55] and paving the way for the flow of capital,
[00:04:57] as major partnerships are not enough with good intentions,
[00:05:01] but rather need to measure the size of the real,
[00:05:04] tangible impact they
[00:05:06] leave on the ground.
[00:05:08] This
[00:05:11] is, therefore, an important visit by
[00:05:14] President Ahmed Al-Shara, accompanied by a high-level
[00:05:18] delegation, as we said, to the Saudi capital Riyadh, and it is
[00:05:22] the second visit within one month
[00:05:27] topic on the table and discuss it with our
[00:05:30] distinguished guests. With us is the Senior Researcher at the Arab Center for Contemporary Studies,
[00:05:33] Dr. Samir Abdullah. Welcome, Dr. Samir, to this episode.
[00:05:37] We also have with us Professor Ahmed Qassem, political analyst. Welcome,
[00:05:41] Professor Ahmed, to this discussion. We also have Dr. Khaled
[00:05:44] Al-Khun, consultant in
[00:05:48] Welcome, Dr. Khaled, with us. From Riyadh,
[00:05:51] we also have Professor Salman Al-Shureidah, political
[00:05:54] writer. Welcome,
[00:05:58] discussion on the table. Dr.
[00:06:01] Samir, what are the most important dimensions that can be read from this
[00:06:04] second visit within one month
[00:06:08] only by President
[00:06:11] hosting me, and my greetings to you, the esteemed viewers,
[00:06:14] and the honorable guests. Certainly, Syrian-Saudi
[00:06:17] relations, especially after the liberation, are
[00:06:20] important relations and have taken an important angle in Syrian
[00:06:23] foreign policy. A quarter of the statements
[00:06:26] issued by the Syrian Foreign Ministry concern Saudi Arabia, especially
[00:06:30] the violations of Iranian attacks on Saudi territory,
[00:06:33] and 10% of the meetings of Foreign Minister Shibani
[00:06:37] were with Saudi parties, and 5% of President Al-Shara's
[00:06:41] meetings were also with Saudi parties. So,
[00:06:44] it has taken an important angle in Syrian
[00:06:48] foreign policy. It has moved from the quick
[00:06:51] contact that took place and the resumption of communication that took place before
[00:06:54] the liberation with the Assad regime to building a strategic
[00:06:57] partnership at multiple levels,
[00:07:00] political, security, and economic levels, and other
[00:07:03] such issues. Certainly, there have been many visits.
[00:07:07] The first visit of President Al-Shara abroad was to the Kingdom
[00:07:10] of Saudi Arabia. This is an important indication of the importance
[00:07:14] of this Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. What
[00:07:18] is happening now in the region certainly has
[00:07:21] importance in this visit, especially the regional developments, Netanyahu's
[00:07:25] loss in the elections, the Republicans' loss in the United
[00:07:28] States of America. Perhaps we will witness
[00:07:32] elections, meaning he cannot form
[00:07:35] a government alone yet. Perhaps we will have current
[00:07:38] indications in Israel and in America. Perhaps
[00:07:41] we will have a new shape for the region or developments. Therefore,
[00:07:45] Syrian-Saudi coordination, as well as Syrian coordination with other
[00:07:49] countries in the region, is very important at this stage, in addition to
[00:07:53] the economic situation and the agreements
[00:07:55] that are expected to result from this
[00:07:59] visit. Coordination, as we mentioned, is
[00:08:02] the most important. A little while ago,
[00:08:07] Saudi Arabia. Syria needs these agreements, especially
[00:08:11] if they include financial topics for projects
[00:08:15] and issues that move production in Syria.
[00:08:18] In July 2025, a large
[00:08:22] Saudi companies, valued at $6 billion.
[00:08:26] Perhaps there were a number of challenges in the past period
[00:08:30] that hindered the implementation of many projects.
[00:08:33] Therefore, we must re-evaluate what has happened and there must
[00:08:38] especially at the level of the Syrian
[00:08:42] presidency, as well as Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to push
[00:08:45] these projects forward. Okay, Professor
[00:08:48] Ahmed, what do you read in the dimensions of the visit,
[00:08:52] both in terms of timing, and as we mentioned earlier, this is
[00:08:55] the second visit within a month, and in terms of the nature
[00:08:59] of the delegation that went to Riyadh? In its context,
[00:09:02] of course, initially in terms of time, we are talking about
[00:09:06] two visits that were, in a short
[00:09:08] time. This is a remarkable matter, of course, initially.
[00:09:13] And also, if we take it into the current regional context
[00:09:16] and the repercussions in the region, and at their forefront, as Dr.
[00:09:19] Samir mentioned earlier, the issue of elections in
[00:09:23] Israel. Of course, this is also a very important issue now
[00:09:27] the - I mean, if we want to talk about
[00:09:31] the state of regional security and stability, and we know
[00:09:35] the recklessness that, of course, the government of the Zionist
[00:09:38] entity is currently practicing, and its attempt to undermine stability and security.
[00:09:42] The region in general. Also,
[00:09:46] the issue of American elections and their repercussions
[00:09:49] and their effects on the region. We know that
[00:09:53] the Democrats and the results of the midterm elections
[00:09:56] will have repercussions
[00:10:01] the region, partially, certainly, of course. Well, we will probably
[00:10:04] return during this impact. You are talking here about
[00:10:08] the American Congress, meaning there are decisions that must
[00:10:11] be made. Now, questions are being asked: will there be a significant
[00:10:14] impact? Where will it be? What is the nature
[00:10:17] of the expected impact on the Democrats in the United
[00:10:21] States of America? If we were - I mean, all observers
[00:10:25] know that they always leaned towards Iran and always
[00:10:29] supported the Iranian alliance and that they always supported
[00:10:34] the region. And here, in fact, a very
[00:10:37] important and dangerous point now when we talk about new
[00:10:40] support that Iran may receive in the region, and we see how
[00:10:44] after Iran's project in the region
[00:10:47] receded after the victory of the blessed Syrian
[00:10:51] revolution, of course, this
[00:10:54] victory led to the receding of this project, a major change in the map of
[00:10:59] the region. We saw the speed even in the change
[00:11:03] the region. The new regional situation due to
[00:11:06] Syria regaining its true role, which
[00:11:09] it was deprived of for more than six decades. In fact, this
[00:11:13] regaining of this role is a very important issue, of course.
[00:11:17] Also, when we talk about the big brother in the region, which is
[00:11:20] the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the strategic weight
[00:11:24] it enjoys. The regional situation,
[00:11:30] in the international community, and the dangers that now
[00:11:34] also threaten the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
[00:11:37] and the Arabian Gulf in general. Also, as a result of Iranian
[00:11:42] the war, I mean, Iran was targeting the Arab Gulf states.
[00:11:46] It targeted them with missiles many more times, dozens
[00:11:50] of times more than it targeted, according to its claim,
[00:11:52] Israel. So, the matter here is that we are facing
[00:11:55] great challenges, very dangerous regional challenges.
[00:11:59] We are talking now about the regional
[00:12:03] climate. Israel is trying to tamper
[00:12:06] with regional security now. It is trying to implement what it had been planning
[00:12:10] and aspiring to previously, which is to make the buffer states surrounding
[00:12:13] the Zionist entity weak, fragmented states
[00:12:16] to facilitate complete dominance over them. Okay, Professor
[00:12:20] Khaled, now Dr. Samir used the term
[00:12:23] "strategic partnership" to describe the relations between
[00:12:27] Syria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. How does
[00:12:30] this partnership on the economic side reflect? What
[00:12:34] has been achieved so far in terms of economic cooperation
[00:12:38] between Syria and Saudi Arabia during the past period? And also,
[00:12:41] regarding the agreements that were announced to be
[00:12:43] signed, what do the nature of these announced agreements
[00:12:47] indicate? Good evening to you and to our
[00:12:51] colleagues and the esteemed viewers.
[00:12:53] Let me use the term "partnership" that our colleague,
[00:12:57] Professor and Doctor, brought up and elaborated
[00:13:00] on.
[00:13:03] Saudi-Syrian relations witnessed a state of severe
[00:13:07] fluctuations during the era of the defunct regime
[00:13:11] and before the defunct
[00:13:13] regime. Then the blessed Syrian
[00:13:16] revolution began, and then
[00:13:20] Saudi support for the paths of the revolution
[00:13:23] and for supporting the Syrian people
[00:13:25] came. And
[00:13:27] after, us with the current political
[00:13:30] phase. The first visitors from
[00:13:34] among the first political visitors to Syria was His Royal
[00:13:38] Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on January
[00:13:41] 25, 2025. That is,
[00:13:44] practically a month or a little
[00:13:47] more after the issue, and it resulted in meetings
[00:13:52] political leadership, and then
[00:13:55] there was a visit by His Excellency President Ahmed Al-Shara
[00:13:59] in February, in early February of the
[00:14:03] same year, 2025. Well, if we have
[00:14:06] drawn a stability indicator for this matter, then Saudi-Syrian
[00:14:09] relations were distorted and corrected
[00:14:13] during the current Syrian political system's phase.
[00:14:17] Well, and now they have entered a growth phase, of relations
[00:14:20] and growing brotherhood within the partnership
[00:14:23] indicator that you mentioned.
[00:14:27] Of course, Saudi Arabia is currently working silently and calmly to provide
[00:14:30] support to Syria in all its forms at the humanitarian
[00:14:34] level, of course. Silently and calmly to
[00:14:37] provide - how silently and calmly? What do you mean?
[00:14:41] Today, the paths of support have
[00:14:44] their political methods and their
[00:14:47] strategies in work. So, always
[00:14:50] the work of providing support
[00:14:53] to regimes and providing political support should be through alliances,
[00:14:56] strategies, and plans built between the two countries.
[00:15:00] And therefore, now the support that
[00:15:03] Saudi Arabia is quietly providing is within the agreed-upon paths
[00:15:06] and is not a support that is, I mean, quietly
[00:15:10] understood, but silently? Silently means unannounced?
[00:15:13] No, the announced support is certainly fully announced,
[00:15:17] but not all forms of support are announced
[00:15:20] support, to be honest. Okay,
[00:15:24] I am speaking about the economic aspect, and without a doubt, it is announced support,
[00:15:27] and in the humanitarian aspect, it is also announced support.
[00:15:31] If we want to talk about Saudi support, Saudi support
[00:15:35] for Syria combines humanitarian and political dimensions,
[00:15:38] and strategic dimensions. It stems from a comprehensive vision for regional
[00:15:42] stability. Saudi support in the economic aspect, you are talking
[00:15:46] about. Yes, we will talk about the economic
[00:15:49] aspect, and we will talk about the outcomes
[00:15:52] of the current visit. Outcomes of the visit. Did we learn anything about
[00:15:56] the areas in which agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed? Let me talk
[00:15:59] about indicators in this regard. What are the indicators? First,
[00:16:02] yesterday there was a meeting between the Minister
[00:16:06] of Industry and Trade, the Interior,
[00:16:09] and the Saudi Ambassador, and they discussed
[00:16:12] signing an industrial cooperation agreement between the two countries.
[00:16:16] And the current visit is within this matter. Something was signed
[00:16:20] that includes the process of industrial
[00:16:22] development. The other matter is industrial
[00:16:26] financing. The third matter is the establishment of industrial cities.
[00:16:29] the visit, of course, we are witnessing, as
[00:16:33] you mentioned, the visit of several ministers
[00:16:37] with the President during this visit. Of course, each minister
[00:16:40] has specific tasks and within the framework of
[00:16:43] follow-up, and practically this visit, as your esteemed guests mentioned,
[00:16:47] is not a visit that is separate from the previous
[00:16:51] visit, and the current visit is not separate from the one
[00:16:54] before it. So, it is a reception. It is not separate, but how is it
[00:16:57] connected? It is connected in following up on plans, curricula,
[00:17:01] and outcomes, evaluating them, and re-drawing new paths in
[00:17:04] the developments occurring in the region. This is what is reflected
[00:17:08] today regarding the visit. If we talk a little
[00:17:12] about the outcomes, I mean, is there anything new now in
[00:17:15] this visit that differs from the previous visit? Of course, what is
[00:17:19] the most important difference here? Let's talk about two days ago, the Ministry of Industry
[00:17:23] officially laid the foundation stone for the project of the Medical and Health Education Center, with a value
[00:17:26] of $2.7 million. Let's talk about numerical indicators that allow
[00:17:30] doctors and nurses to update their information and develop their skills in
[00:17:33] fever. This is part of the support from King Salman Center for
[00:17:38] matter, and this is a matter
[00:17:40] that is being implemented on the ground today. Today, regarding
[00:17:46] the humanitarian aspect and from it the economic
[00:17:49] the humanitarian level, the King Salman
[00:17:53] Relief Center launched 61 medical
[00:17:56] and development projects. And it also provided
[00:17:59] aid that included 18 planes, 808
[00:18:02] trucks containing raw materials
[00:18:05] and many aids. Then the Saudi
[00:18:08] "Amal" volunteer program was launched.
[00:18:12] carried out 2060 operations.
[00:18:15] It performed joint and prosthetic limb
[00:18:19] surgeries. Let's not delve too much into the details, Dr.
[00:18:22] Khaled. Now, Syrian-Saudi economic cooperation,
[00:18:26] yes. Where has it reached? Yes. Has it reached
[00:18:30] a stage that satisfies both the Syrian and Saudi sides?
[00:18:33] Where does it originally start from in general?
[00:18:37] What is also expected during the coming period regarding
[00:18:41] economic cooperation between the two sides? Syrian-Saudi
[00:18:44] economic cooperation is cooperation
[00:18:47] in three phases. First, it is cooperation
[00:18:50] to implement
[00:18:54] the past year, which are partnership agreements,
[00:18:57] industrial and commercial
[00:18:59] and investment and telecommunications agreements, and infrastructure agreements
[00:19:03] that were made. Now, work is being done to implement
[00:19:06] their outcomes. Well, and has anything been achieved on the ground? Among them are Riyadh
[00:19:09] cables, the STC project, the Seelink project,
[00:19:13] and also projects related
[00:19:16] to health support and, sorry, industrial
[00:19:20] and agricultural support, and real estate projects such
[00:19:24] as Bayat Hills and others. Excellent. We will return to these details during
[00:19:27] the discussion, Professor Khaled. Professor Salman,
[00:19:31] how did you follow the visit, its proceedings,
[00:19:34] its timing, what resulted from it, what has been announced
[00:19:38] so far? What are the most important indicators for
[00:19:41] you? Good evening to you and to
[00:19:44] the esteemed viewers and your honorable guests. I believe
[00:19:47] that the importance of President Ahmed
[00:19:51] Al-Shara's visit to Riyadh stems from a fundamental
[00:19:54] question: how can Syria transform its
[00:19:58] Arab relations into a force that helps it
[00:20:01] regain its well-being, and how can
[00:20:04] Saudi support reflect on the security of Syrians, their lives,
[00:20:08] and the future of their state? From this perspective, I see
[00:20:11] that we are facing an important visit in
[00:20:14] its timing, in the level of representation, and in the nature
[00:20:18] of the files that the Syrian
[00:20:21] delegation carries. Syria needs
[00:20:24] today to make progress in more than one track at the same
[00:20:27] time, meaning through building
[00:20:30] institutions, establishing security, stimulating the economy,
[00:20:34] improving services, and protecting the unity of the country
[00:20:37] and its sovereignty. And every track affects the other,
[00:20:41] naturally. Investment
[00:20:44] needs security and reliable institutions,
[00:20:47] and institutions need resources and competencies,
[00:20:51] and citizens need to feel that stability gives them an opportunity
[00:20:54] for work and a dignified life. And for this
[00:20:59] Saudi Arabia gain their importance. I believe, when
[00:21:02] - when - I mean, through
[00:21:06] what the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia truly possesses in political
[00:21:09] and economic weight and the ability to build partnerships and mobilize
[00:21:13] regional and international attention. And I believe that Syria
[00:21:16] today deserves to be supported and stood by,
[00:21:20] and solidarity. Truly, Syria
[00:21:23] is a very important country due to its geopolitical location,
[00:21:26] and also due to its people who have suffered for many
[00:21:30] years and need a lot of support, truly,
[00:21:33] and they deserve that. A people who truly
[00:21:37] have many skills and important human resources.
[00:21:40] Also, they truly have what they can
[00:21:43] offer, both to the region and even internally.
[00:21:47] And what distinguishes, I believe, from what I read in this visit,
[00:21:50] Saudi-Syrian relations today, in my estimation,
[00:21:54] is the existence of a wide space for the convergence
[00:21:57] of interests. I believe that Syrians, I mean,
[00:22:00] want a state that regains its capabilities to protect its land
[00:22:03] and serve its people, and it is in Saudi Arabia's interest that its
[00:22:07] Arab surroundings are stable and that it is a state capable
[00:22:11] of bearing its responsibilities and preventing
[00:22:15] cross-border expansion. This convergence
[00:22:19] can give the relationship continuity and depth,
[00:22:22] especially when it transforms into cooperation between
[00:22:26] institutions and projects that truly benefit
[00:22:29] people. And, I
[00:22:32] believe, when I read the warm
[00:22:36] welcome for President Ahmed Al-Shara from His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin
[00:22:39] Salman, I believe it is a description of appreciation
[00:22:43] and interest and an indicator that the positive
[00:22:46] atmosphere between the two leaders and the image
[00:22:50] have a great impact, truly. The Syrian citizen
[00:22:53] today yearns to restore
[00:22:56] his country to its place
[00:22:59] celebration as a sign of attention and also attention to Syria
[00:23:03] and its future. Also, trust between the two leaders
[00:23:07] helps in discussing complex files, truly,
[00:23:11] with frankness and with what is the most important cooperation
[00:23:14] between officials, meaning with strength.
[00:23:17] With very important strength. What are the most important complex
[00:23:21] files here? I believe there are many complex
[00:23:24] files, whether related to Syria's security
[00:23:27] in the first place. There will certainly be cooperation, meaning
[00:23:31] there will be security cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Syria regarding
[00:23:35] the cooperation that grants Syria
[00:23:38] its ability to protect itself and protect its sovereignty,
[00:23:42] in addition to its role in
[00:23:45] and regional stability. We know today, here
[00:23:49] the question now is, how does
[00:23:52] Saudi Arabia view Syria's role in the issue of regional
[00:23:56] security? How does it evaluate it?
[00:23:59] Syria's geographical location is very important. We,
[00:24:03] I mean, we have had, over the past years,
[00:24:07] knowledge of the importance of Syria's
[00:24:10] stability. When Syria was suffering,
[00:24:13] truly, from significant breaches,
[00:24:17] whether from the Iranian side or the Russian side, or
[00:24:20] even groups, or even
[00:24:23] the rebellion of some forces affiliated
[00:24:27] with the defunct regime, there was
[00:24:30] truly, and those who suffered
[00:24:33] directly from this, truly, were the Syrian people, without a doubt.
[00:24:36] But it also reflected on the security and stability of the region
[00:24:40] through Iran's expansionist practices, through
[00:24:43] supporting
[00:24:47] Iraq or Lebanon. And Syria was also a passage
[00:24:50] for this,
[00:24:53] I mean, Iranian support for these groups.
[00:24:57] And that is why I believe that its very important geopolitical location
[00:25:01] today,
[00:25:04] for regional security, truly,
[00:25:08] reliable partners. And the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia always seeks
[00:25:11] to achieve regional security and stability. Also,
[00:25:15] today, Syria also, I mean, truly faces,
[00:25:18] from time to time, attempts to question
[00:25:22] its ability to protect its security and sovereignty
[00:25:26] through, I mean, Israel's targeting of it, through
[00:25:29] also some of its neighbors when there are, I mean,
[00:25:33] certain targetings. Many
[00:25:36] complex security files. I do not want to
[00:25:40] go into their details, but I believe that it is very
[00:25:43] important for Syria to regain its well-being
[00:25:47] and regain its strength, truly, so that it can be
[00:25:50] a more influential state in a positive way. It is very
[00:25:54] important. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, without a doubt, has a great
[00:25:58] influence on the region and at the international level in all aspects.
[00:26:01] Excellent. I believe, I believe that the Saudi
[00:26:05] leadership believes in the importance
[00:26:08] of having strong partners in the region as well. And that is why
[00:26:12] it grants this ability to
[00:26:15] Syria to regain stability, and economy.
[00:26:18] And I believe these are all interconnected files. Okay,
[00:26:22] Dr. Samir, now this visit differs
[00:26:25] from previous visits, the last of which was
[00:26:28] less than a month ago, in terms of timing.
[00:26:34] the region, I mean, this data needs
[00:26:37] discussion and coordination between the two parties and
[00:26:41] between all countries in the region as well. In terms of the nature of the delegation
[00:26:45] and the agreements that will be signed during this visit.
[00:26:48] There is talk about $400 million,
[00:26:52] but it is a loan, not a Saudi grant. I mean, the issue of talking
[00:26:56] about Saudi support, certainly, the Kingdom of Saudi
[00:26:59] Arabia is thanked for all it has provided. $400 million,
[00:27:03] $400 million. $4003. These are loans.
[00:27:07] A loan. One loan during this visit.
[00:27:10] A loan, I mean, in the end, it is not a grant. So, here the Kingdom of Saudi
[00:27:14] Arabia is thanked for what it has provided, but when we compare what Saudi
[00:27:17] Arabia has provided to Syria, for example, compared to what it has provided to other
[00:27:21] countries, for example, Egypt in 2013 or even after,
[00:27:24] it is limited support. Some salaries
[00:27:26] provided millions as salaries for employees
[00:27:30] and now there is a provision for
[00:27:32] loans. Certainly, political support was great, and thanks to Prince
[00:27:36] Mohammed bin Salman, as well as the Turkish President and the Qatari Emir, many
[00:27:40] sanctions were lifted. Humanitarian support is good, but
[00:27:44] the issue of economic relations, in my opinion, needs
[00:27:47] reassessment from both sides. This means that Saudi support
[00:27:50] so far has been limited from the economic side, not within
[00:27:54] what was expected. The Syrian people
[00:27:58] the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Certainly, there are regional circumstances, and even circumstances
[00:28:01] within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the war with, or the war in
[00:28:05] the Gulf region, the war on Iran, certainly played a significant
[00:28:08] role. It plays a role in this matter, whether
[00:28:12] the support was limited or larger than that,
[00:28:15] according to what was expected. No, I believe the calculations
[00:28:18] of the Syrian Arab Kingdom of Saudi Arabia want Syria to be strong,
[00:28:22] because the ability of the Syrian state and its ability
[00:28:27] on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, especially limiting Iranian
[00:28:31] militias, Hezbollah, and other militias that were
[00:28:34] threatening all countries in the region. So far, the support
[00:28:38] is less than expected, in my opinion, yes. Less than expected, and even
[00:28:41] many of the agreements that were signed
[00:28:45] the past year, estimated at six billion dollars, many
[00:28:49] of them have not been converted into agreements. There were
[00:28:51] many challenges for Saudi Arabia, and specifically
[00:28:55] for the Syrian domestic institution
[00:28:58] and governance, especially regarding laws.
[00:29:08] Many memorandums of understanding to agreements. Let me clarify something for you:
[00:29:12] converting a memorandum
[00:29:15] the ground has steps. One
[00:29:18] of the most important obstacles that existed during that period was
[00:29:22] the issue of American sanctions and the issue
[00:29:25] of the absence of SWIFT for
[00:29:28] financial transfers. So, you even need
[00:29:31] to transfer large sums of money. Today, the Kingdom of Saudi
[00:29:35] Arabia is a state of institutions. I mean, money doesn't come out
[00:29:40] money needs to be framed within its regulatory framework and transferred
[00:29:44] officially. Therefore, transferring money from
[00:29:47] Saudi accounts to Syrian accounts via
[00:29:51] SWIFT was hindered due to American sanctions
[00:29:54] and the suspension of the SWIFT system for financial transfers.
[00:29:58] This required issues related
[00:30:01] to compliance, verification of financial compliance,
[00:30:05] ensuring the legality of the entry of these funds and the legality
[00:30:09] of the execution of these funds within their outputs and contexts.
[00:30:12] So, today, let's talk about
[00:30:15] the issue. If we assume that the agreements, we put a speed indicator
[00:30:19] for completion, and we said that these agreements were signed today,
[00:30:23] and today we are in the final
[00:30:26] stages of the impact of sanctions, because all
[00:30:30] sanctions have effects and impact on policies.
[00:30:33] Therefore, if you signed these agreements today at this stage, the rate
[00:30:37] of their completion will be faster than the rate of their completion
[00:30:41] in the previous stage. Consequently,
[00:30:44] the obstacles are regulatory frameworks and not
[00:30:47] a lack of desire. We want, in general, that most memorandums
[00:30:50] of understanding, as you mentioned, were signed in 2025. There were
[00:30:53] high public expectations. No, I told him
[00:30:56] there are challenges, ultimately challenges within Saudi Arabia, and greater challenges within.